By Ebony Marie Chappel

Deb Hallberg’s welcoming personality and signature red-framed glasses are what many people notice first. The multifaceted business professional, who has worked in the legal field for decades, has yet another coveted skill — that of being a great connector. Hallberg currently serves as business development manager for Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Indianapolis, and when she isn’t handling things for the firm, she can be found leading and  serving in a number of professional and civic organizations, such as the Business Ownership Initiative, Indiana Bourbon Women, National Association of Professional Women and the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center, to name a few. In 2015, she was inducted into the 2015-16 VIP Woman of the Year Circle, and in 2012 she was named one of Indianapolis’ Top 50 Business Connectors by the US Small Business Conference.

Indiana Minority Business Magazine recently sat down with Hallberg to discuss her unique sense of style, personal career path and advice for young female professionals.

IMBM: You are a woman working in what appears to be a pretty strait-laced professional environment, yet you still have touches of creativity to your look. How did you develop your own sense of personal style? 

Hallberg: I grew up in a white-collar family. My dad was a bank president, so it was always known that you had to dress a certain way, and I’ve worked with lawyers my entire working career. The men all wore suits, the women wore suits and dresses, so there was an expectation. As I advanced in my career dealing with white-collar professionals … if you wanted to have a seat at that table and be taken seriously, part of it was dressing the part.

Clearly, dressing the part is an integral piece to your work today. How would you describe the quintessential Deb look?

Everything (in my wardrobe) goes together, everything matches or blends. I might wear a statement bracelet, necklace or earrings, but everything doesn’t have to be “matchy-matchy.” I own one suit, and everything else is separates. I do not want to wear a conservative lawyer-like look every day; I want it to be more fun-looking but still professional so that if last minute I’m asked to go to lunch with an attorney and a client, I’m dressed appropriately.

You have worked in the legal field for several years. How did you come into this particular career and how has your professional journey progressed?

When I was in college, I was unsure of what I wanted to do, so I took some psychological tests to see what direction I should go in. Some friends of my parents lived across the street from a lawyer who was a partner at a law firm; I met him on a Saturday afternoon and had an interview in his home that day. There was no drug testing or typing involved; I just sat and we talked, and I started the following Monday. The firm was Locke Reynolds (now Frost Brown Todd). I worked there for three years, and it was a small firm. I decided I needed a change, so I came to Barnes & Thornburg and stayed for six years then left when one of the partners left to do his own thing. I worked with him off and on for 18 years, and he also was a manager/partner of the Southern Cross Club resort in the Cayman Islands. I never went, but I was telling everyone how awesome this place was and that was fun, talking to people all over the world who wanted to go there on vacation. Then I left and went to Merchants National Bank (now PNC) and managed their legal department for a few years. I left there and went to a small law firm, and then their corporate department came here to Barnes & Thornburg. I didn’t want to come back, so I went to work for a small startup for nine months, and it wasn’t a good fit. Then I came back to Barnes & Thornburg and have been back for 14 years. It was a really good move on my part to come back. In working with all the attorneys and all the people that I’ve met, I was able to meet some really innovative shakers and movers for this city, really influential people. Over 40 years, I’ve been able to develop a really awesome database of contacts, but you have to really work at that.

For some women, navigating the professional world can be daunting. There are some who require a certain amount of stability and may have even grown loyal to their current employer. Would you agree that the process can be challenging? 

Yes. You get comfortable. It’s easy to stay and not make the decision to move on, and women tend to be risk-averse. It’s risky to make that change, and you’re looking at the unknown. You’re comfortable with what you do, you know your job, you do it and then you go home. My job, it’s different every single day and that’s the best part. I’m not coming in and sitting at a desk doing the same thing every day. I get to come in and interact with a lot of cool people and successful women, which I love doing. I don’t know that I can find that somewhere else. I feel like once you find a spot where you’re appreciated and you can make a difference and you’re receiving what you’re giving, then that’s great. But if you’re not being fulfilled, then maybe it’s time to look on the other side of that glass and see what’s out there.

How has mentorship benefited you, and what advice do you have for others on how to properly seek out and approach a mentor?

I had someone just contact me out of the blue, knew my name, checked me out on LinkedIn, stalked me with emails wanting to meet, and I thought, ‘Well, I’ll go ahead and meet her.’ It was a great meeting. She was looking for a mentor and wanted to meet me to see if I would be interested in doing it, so that was kind of different. I’ve had women that I’d known for a few years, they’re in their 30s and they’ll say, ‘Oh Deb, thanks for being my mentor,’ and I’ll think, ‘Oh, I didn’t think of it as being her mentor. It was very flattering that that’s how she thought of me,’ but sometimes I think it just evolves. You meet someone and you make that connection and you like spending time with that person. You enjoy the conversation. I love hearing from young women about what’s going on in their lives and what their work challenges are. If there is any advice or wisdom that I can share or suggestions or introductions, that’s what I love doing. I’ve been working in this area for a very long time, and things have changed drastically for women. It’s a whole new world for young female professionals.

In what ways do you feel the workforce has changed for women, particularly in male-dominated industries?

There’s more respect for women. I think (women are taken) more seriously, and more women have a seat at the table. There are also more women in the workplace now than there were, and there are a lot more successful women. We’re not where we need to be, but we’re getting there. The women are also smarter. Technology has advanced so far. I think women, when they enter the workplace, have far more experience than we did many years ago, so they’re just more savvy about the workplace. There weren’t female mentors when I started. I had male mentors when I started, and that’s not bad, but it was also much later (in my career). I have a couple now, and they’re younger, but I can go to them and they understand what I do and the environment. But then I also have my tribe of females that are my age and a little younger, but they’re all female professionals and we can share different experiences, frustrations and challenges and be open with our advice and critiques.

How important is it to have a support group? 

Everyone should have their own personal board of directors. You don’t want them to all look like you — maybe three to four people, men and women. You maybe don’t share as much of your personal life with them, but they can help you with your professional life.

How has your board/tribe helped you? 

It has helped me in making some decisions about my career path. They have been people that I’ve been able to talk to when I was at a fork in the road just to get some advice; here’s pros and cons, what do you think? Am I being crazy? I have talked to them about different instances that have occurred in my professional life, and they’ve talked me off the ledge a little bit. There have been some very critical moments when the board has made a solid impact on where I am today.

By Keshia McEntire

Whether you are planning a new business, looking to improve an established company’s operations or working out the first steps of becoming an entrepreneur, keeping a company running smoothly can often become overwhelming. Thankfully, the internet is full of templates, tools, applications and resources to help your business thrive. Simplify things by taking advantage of these free online resources and start building the business you’ve always dreamed of.

FOR SMALL BUSINESSES:

Hootsuite

In today’s world, having an active social media presence is key to building your brand, gaining new customers and keeping your current client base engaged. However, remembering to update a plethora of social media accounts daily can fall by the wayside when busy business owners are focused on handling the day-to-day operations of their company. Hootsuite is a tool that makes social media management quick and easy, allowing users to post to and monitor multiple social accounts from one dashboard and auto-schedule updates. Hootsuite also tracks social growth and engagement so users can learn what content their audience responds to the most. The free plan allows users to manage up to three social media profiles in one place, all with one password. Visit hootsuite.com for more information.

Canva

All business owners want professionally designed logos and graphics for their social media accounts and marketing materials, but many startup companies may not have the capital to hire a designer right away. Get creative and design your own high-quality graphics with Canva, a free online design program that uses pre-formatted templates to help users create everything from infographics, posters and menus to Facebook banners and Instagram posts. Visit canva.com to get started.

SCORE templates and tools

SCORE, a nonprofit working to aid small businesses and entrepreneurs, has business planning, finance, sales, marketing and management templates and guides available online. Visitors can also request to chat with mentors online, over the phone or in person for free. Visit indianapolis.score.org for more information.

Yelp

Twenty-six million people visit Yelp every month to rant, rave and review the efforts of local service providers. Business owners can see what customers are saying about them and get in on the conversation. Use Yelp to share useful information regarding your services and politely engage with any critics you might have. Visit yelp.com to get started.

FOR BIGGER BUSINESSES:

Slack

A resource that promises its users fewer meetings and emails is sure to gain a lot of attention, and this tool has lived up to its reputation and earned rave reviews from pcmag.com and the New York Times. Slack is a group communication tool that allows teams to set up channels to have conversations, cutting down on unneeded emails and aiding in collaboration among large numbers of people. Files, images, PDFs, documents and spreadsheets can be dropped right into Slack and shared with other users, and previous conversations are searchable so users can easily find information. Slack also supports audio and video chats. Sign up at slack.com.

Google Drive

Google Drive is basically a mobile Microsoft Office suite that is accessible online from any smartphone, tablet or computer. Users can invite colleagues to view, download and collaborate on files — no email addresses or compatible software required. In addition, Drive keeps all of your paperwork in order; snap photos of paper documents and Drive will store them as a PDF, or search keywords between multiple documents to find similar items. Drive has 15 gigabytes of free storage space and more available for a nominal fee. Learn more at google.com/drive.

Expensify

Keeping track of your company’s expenses can be a pain. With Expensify, reports are finished with one tap. Scan your receipt and Expensify will code and report the expense for you before finally auto-submitting it for approval. The basic plan, which includes 10 SmartScans per month, is free. Visit use.expensify.com for more information.

FOR ENTREPRENEURS:

YouCanBook.me

Entrepreneurs are eliminating back and forth negotiations by sharing their schedules and rates with clients and letting customers book directly into their calendar. This is perfect for stylists, mechanics, consultants and other appointment-based or pay-by-the-hour entrepreneurs. Users can post their booking grid to their Facebook page, personal website or email. The tool will integrate with their Google, Microsoft or iCloud calendar to help them keep track of their schedule, while sending clients reminders to make sure they show up on time. Get started by visiting YouCanBook.me.

Kickstarter

Kickstarter helps artists, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, designers and other creators find the resources they need to get their vision off the ground. Startups can launch a funding campaign with Kickstarter to collect donations toward the business. This service is free, but Kickstarter will take a small percentage if your campaign is fully funded. Start your fundraiser at Kickstarter.com.

Google Analytics

Track the impact of your marketing efforts with Google Analytics, a free analytics tool that tracks website traffic and helps users learn more about their audience. Once a visitor starts browsing your website, Google Analytics will examine their actions. The tool has a free option for individuals, startups and small businesses, and moderate pricing for larger companies. Sign up at analytics.google.com.

By Miranda Miller

IF YOU’RE RETURNING TO WORK after maternity leave and wondering how you’ll achieve the elusive work-life balance you’ve heard so much about, stop putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.

“I’ve come to realize that there is no such thing (as) work-life balance,” said Jive Software CEO Elisa Steele. “It wasn’t until I gave up trying to balance my life that I figured it all out. I developed a new state of mind, to simply do what feels right at the right time. I began answering this question honestly: ‘What is most important for me to do at this time?’”

That being said, it still takes a lot of confidence, support and motivation for a new mom to go back to work. Valeh Nazemoff, a competitive ballroom dancer and CEO of a business consulting company whose clients include the White House and Sony, said a successful return is “a dance of sorts.” The Huffington Post columnist and author of “The Dance of the Business Mind: Strategies to Thrive Anywhere, from the Ballroom to the Boardroom” offered the following five tips to help make your transition as fluid as your favorite “Dancing with the Stars” performance.

1. FOCUS ON YOUR FOUNDATION

Regardless of how long you’ve been doing your job, your first day back can be bewildering after a vacation, let alone a weeks- or months-long maternity leave. Nazemoff said she starts dance routines at her feet and works her way up to her head.

“Even if I am working on a familiar routine, it’s crucial to always circle back to the foundation,” she said.

Consider how you can apply that to your profession.

2. COMMUNICATE WITH COWORKERS

Communication is crucial, Nazemoff said. Just as dancers communicate via gestures, to avoid a misstep, you want to note body language — both others’ and your own. Competitive dancers are judged on poise, presentation and posture; you will be, too. Paying attention to how you carry yourself and sitting up straight rather than slouching during meetings will help increase confidence in your abilities.

3. SEE YOURSELF AS A SUCCESS

Before you go back to work, think about the image and qualities you want to project.

“The persona you create for yourself can have a very powerful impact on how the judges (or your colleagues and superiors) see you,” she said.

Nazemoff cited Shakira as a role model due to the singer’s confidence and independence. Once you have a goal in mind, work toward it but remember that a minor tweak may be all you need.

4. STAY ALERT TO STIMULI

Failing to notice an uneven floor or broken shoe can cause a dancer to fall, Nazemoff said. Likewise, allowing your brain to shift into autopilot at work could lead to your own downfall. Companies are constantly innovating to stay ahead of competitors, so things may have changed during your absence. Tune in to your environment and adapt accordingly.

5. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MISTAKES

Slavik Kryklyvyy, one of the professional dancers that Nazemoff interviewed for her book, said missteps have been added to choreography.

“You say, ‘Oh, I can make this special. I can develop something from it,’” he said.

Similarly, Post-it Notes, ink-jet printers and potato chips were all created by mistake on the job, so who knows how your error could profit your employer in the long run.

Kevin Deutsch, a business program manager who started taking dance lessons two years ago, told Nazemoff that watching videos of his performances helped him improve, so he now seeks feedback at work.

“(This) also helped him come off as more human to his coworkers,” Nazemoff said.