Do you have a dream that you’ve been putting off until you’ve figured out all of the details? What would happen if you threw caution to the wind and just took that first step forward? Meet Ellen Bennett, founder and CEO of Hedley & Bennett, who shares why it’s important to just get started and figure out the details along the way. In her new book “Dream First, Details Later”, Ellen shares her journey and personal playbook for starting before you stop yourself. Ellen’s hustle and willingness to leap into the unknown, time and time again, has helped her build a multi-million-dollar company, making aprons and kitchen gear worn by many of the world’s best chefs and home cooks everywhere. In this episode, Ellen shares how she self-funded her business, and how getting comfortable with the uncomfortable allows her to navigate through change and keep leveling up. She even pivoted her business from making aprons to making masks at the beginning of the pandemic, helping to save jobs and donate over a half a million masks to those in need. So, if you’ve ever imagined doing something and immediately thought, “that’s impossible,” or “I wouldn’t even know where to start,” or “I’m not qualified to do that”, Ellen will teach you how to push aside your inner critic and launch into action. Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you will find shownotes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Ellen.   Highlights: [02:39] Ellen’s story [03:43] “Dream First, Details Later” [06:06] Navigating challenges and setbacks [07:48] Finding success in doubt [10:00] Taking the first step forward [12:23] Get comfortable with the uncomfortable [15:50] Attracting cutting-edge talent [19:15] Behind the scenes of success [20:10] Start with building your community [23:29] Staying focused on what’s right for you [26:15] Adapting when your playbook goes out of the window [30:30] How Ellen stays ahead of the curve [32:15] Hold on to the scrappiness [34:34] What keeps Ellen grounded [38:50] Where to get Ellen’s book, “Dream First, Details Later”   Quotes: “The best advice I could ever give to anyone is just start, you just need to begin and figure out the details along the way.” – Ellen Bennett  “Seize the opportunity and have enough confidence in yourself that you've done enough things in life to get you this far.” – Ellen Bennett “Never feel like you are just one person and you can't have an impact in the world, your opinion and your actions matter.” – Ellen Bennett “No matter how much building you do in life, sometimes things happen and you just have to be willing to rise to the occasion, adjust and let go of what you did before.” – Ellen Bennett   About Ellen Bennett: Growing up, Ellen Bennett, the founder and CEO of Hedley & Bennett, the leading Los Angeles based culinary workwear brand, found herself spending summers in her native Mexico learning to cook with her abuelita. Soon after graduating high school, Ellen found herself back in Mexico City attending culinary school where she would rekindle the joys of her summer cooking adventures while learning the skills needed to tackle the hustle of the professional kitchen. Back in L.A. she put her training to work cooking in two Michelin Star restaurants, Providence and Baco Mercat. It was during this time working on the line that she experienced a “uniform” that was not aligned with the creativity and confidence found in the kitchen. This led to the vision for Hedley & Bennett; make the best aprons in the world by marrying the needs of professional chefs with the design trends for today's discerning consumers. Today, Hedley & Bennett make more than aprons, but culinary workwear and gear that outfits over 6,000 restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, resorts and hundreds of thousands of home cooks all over the world. This evolution has also led to creative, out-of-the-box collaborations with brands such as Vans, Madewell, Parachute Home, Rifle Paper Co., Product (RED) and more. Most recently, she pivoted the resources of her company during the global COVID-19 pandemic to make masks to meet the needs of both professionals and consumers while donating over 200k masks to front line workers. Ellen and the Hedley & Bennett story has been featured in the New York Times, Fast Company, Inc., Bon Appetit, Martha Stewart, the Today Show and more. Ellen lives in Echo Park with her husband Casey, their pet pig Oliver, and six chickens.   Links: Website: https://www.hedleyandbennett.com/ Link to Ellen’s Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/607064/dream-first-details-later-by-ellen-marie-bennett/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenmariebennett/ Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hedleyandbennett/

Do you have an intense fear of public speaking? Does your heartbeat race at the thought of standing up in front of a room full of people? In this episode, Nikki shares her own experience with her fear of public speaking and what steps she took to overcome it. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and links.   Highlights: [01:04] Nikki’s first experience on stage [06:34] How Nikki overcame her fear of public speaking [08:56] Practice, practice, practice [15:12] Get clear on your WHY   Quotes: “You can’t get better at something if you don't invest time in it, and you can’t invest time in it, if you never schedule it.” – Nikki Barua “The best way to overcome your fear of public speaking is to practice by seeking opportunities to speak whenever you have the chance.” – Nikki Barua “To overcome your fear of public speaking you must practice the three “P”s - you need to prepare, you need to practice and you need to be patient.” – Monica Marquez About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is a senior corporate leader, ex-Googler, and diversity expert. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

You’ve likely heard some leaders described as a servant leader. But what does that really mean? Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations, and ultimately creates a more just and caring world. Simply put, it is all about leading by lifting others. Our guest today, Chloe Drew, knows a thing or two about servant leadership. Throughout her career, from her corporate executive roles to her philanthropic and political engagement, Chloe has fought for the underdog and paved the way for others to get ahead. In this episode, Chloe shares her story and how she chose a divergent career path from her Harvard College classmates and followed her passion to help others. Chloe Drew has 20 years of experience designing, scaling and leading strategies in human resources, corporate social impact, philanthropy and diversity, equity & inclusion. She currently works as an advisor and coach to CEOs and executive teams to develop customized inclusion and diversity strategies that help unlock the full potential of leaders and teams.   Highlights: [03:04] Chloe’s journey [08:13] Gaining clarity on your path [10:35] Pushing past your fear of failure [16:11] Excelling in a new & unfamiliar environment [19:30] Tips for making difficult decisions [23:32] Dynamics of imposter syndrome [26:38] Asking your community for help [29:39] How to stay ahead of the curve and be agile [32:32] Advice on accelerating your success   Quotes: “The best and most profound lessons of my life have been when I've completely failed.”– Chloe Drew “Don’t expect to have the full picture when making a difficult decision, strive to get to feeling fairly confident in your decision.” – Chloe Drew “Asking yourself ‘what outcome are you trying to achieve?’, will help drive out the noise, assumptions and biases.” – Chloe Drew   About Chloe Drew: Chloe Drew has 20 years of experience designing, scaling and leading strategies in human resources, corporate social impact, philanthropy and diversity, equity & inclusion. Currently she works as an advisor and coach to CEOs and executive teams across sectors – including technology, communications, financial services, sports and fashion – to develop customized inclusion and diversity strategies that help unlock the full potential of leaders and teams. Before that Chloe was Chief People Officer at the real estate tech firm Compass where she supported a team of 2,500 employees nationally and oversaw the full employee experience through talent acquisition, total rewards, talent management, HR policy and diversity & inclusion. She also served as President of Philanthropy and launched the firm’s first community impact program engaging all employees and 15,000 real estate agents across Compass’s 20+ markets. Previously she was Chief of Staff at the Markle Foundation leading HR, strategy and fundraising at the $125M independent foundation dedicated to harnessing the power of technology to advance economic inclusion. From 2013 - 2015 Chloe was Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Appointments where she ran the Administration’s effort to recruit Commissioners and senior staff for over 60 city agencies and 200 municipal boards and commissions. From 2008 to 2013 Chloe was Executive Director of the Council of Urban Professionals, a nonprofit network of diverse business leaders in New York and Los Angeles, and from 2002 to 2007 she was Campaign Director for Congresswoman Barbara Lee in California’s 13th District. Chloe earned an A.B. from Harvard College in History and Literature. She has served on nonprofit boards including Wellesley College Centers for Women, Latino Justice, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Emerge America and Oakland Vote. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two young children. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-drew-7ab26a4/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chloedrew Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloedrew7/  

Have you asked yourself and really thought about what distinguishes you from everyone else? What is your unique value proposition? If you don’t know the answer to these questions or if you don’t know how to articulate your story in a compelling way, then you’re limiting your career opportunities. In this episode, our guest, Sandra Lopez, Vice President for Intel Sports, shares how she turned an ordinary career into an extraordinary one when she finally answered these questions posed by her colleague. Sandra realized that she wasn’t embracing the characteristics and strengths that made her unique and stand out from the crowd of talent around her. This set her on a path to discovery, self-reflection and taking action. In Sandra’s current role as VP for Intel Sports, she is responsible for partnering with the sports and media industry to provide the future fans with the next generation of immersive media experiences.  Sandra leads a team that is focused on leading the business, marketing and market development efforts of Intel Sports and Studios. She is also the co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on VR/AR/XR. And is dedicated to building the next generation of women leaders. Over the course of her career, Sandra has received numerous recognitions, including “Most Powerful Women in Tech” (National Diversity Council), “Top Women in Media” (Cynopsis), “Top 10 Latina Executives” (LatinaStyle), and the list goes on. Prior to joining Intel in 2005, Sandra held various positions at Adobe Systems Inc., Macromedia, Computer Associates International Inc. and several other technology companies.   Highlights: [02:37] Sandra’s journey [06:37] Building your brand and telling your story [11:36] Overcoming limiting beliefs [14:46] Owning your achievements [19:37] Difference in mentors and sponsors [24:10] Taking risks and making decisions [28:17] Overcoming setbacks and failures [30:10] Sandra’s success habits [32:57] Establishing healthy boundaries [35:59] Advice on accelerating your success   Quotes: “Life is like Waze, you know where you want to go, but allow yourself to explore the unexplored neighborhoods that you never knew existed.”– Sandra E. Lopez “Tap into who you were meant to become and lean into that because everyone else is taken.” – Sandra E. Lopez “Take baby steps towards tackling your fears and anxieties. If you get 1% better every day, imagine how much better you're going to be 365 days from now.” – Sandra E. Lopez “We need to reframe the word failure so that failure equals growth that enables you to do better.” – Sandra E. Lopez   About Sandra E. Lopez: Sandra E. Lopez is VP for Intel Sports and is responsible for partnering with the sports and media industry to provide the future fans with the next generation of immersive media experiences. In her role, she leads a team that is focused on leading the business, marketing and market development efforts of Intel Sports and Studios. Lopez is also the co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on VR/AR/XR. Previously, she led and managed the fashion wearable business for Intel’s New Technology Group. Earlier in her Intel career, Lopez held various roles within corporate marketing, including director of new business marketing and consumer marketing. Over the course of her career, Lopez has received numerous recognitions, including “Most Powerful Women in Tech” (National Diversity Council), “Top Women in Media” (Cynopsis), “Top 10 Latina Executives” (LatinaStyle), “Most Influential and Notable Hispanic Professionals in Information Technology” (HiTec) and “Game Changer” (Sports Business Journal). Prior to joining Intel in 2005, Lopez held various positions at Adobe Systems Inc., Macromedia, Computer Associates International Inc. and several other technology companies. Lopez earned a B.S. in Economics and Textiles and Clothing from the University of California at Davis. In addition, she attended the Stanford’s Executive Accelerator Program in 2016. As part of contributing to the community, she is focused on building the next generation of women leaders. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lopezsandra/  

Have you ever heard of the phrase “you have to see it to be it”? It’s the beginning of Women’s History Month, and we're celebrating icons, innovators and leaders who have paved the way for women today, and why it’s important for each of us to inspire others.  In this episode, we discuss what is meant by “see it to be it” and the three ways that seeing these trailblazing women is empowering and enabling women everywhere to “see it” and “be it”. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.    Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and links. Highlights: [00:50] The meaning of “see it to be it” [01:09] 3 ways “see it to be it” empowers [04:45] Visibility matters [07:09] Women who’ve inspired us [10:11] Who represents the future you   Quotes: “If you're not willing to work for it, it's not a true motivation.” – Nikki Barua “The reason “if you can see it, you can be it” works so powerfully is that it helps you clarify your what, it helps you connect to your why, and it helps you codify the how.” – Nikki Barua “It's not just about getting to the top, it's becoming more visible so you can inspire change by sharing your story and making it possible for someone else to dream. It normalizes success.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is a senior corporate leader, ex-Googler, and diversity expert. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez

Hustle – the Urban Dictionary defines the word hustle as: “to strive headstrong and voraciously towards a goal”. Or as Anthony Iannarino clarified in his article, “The Real Meaning of the Word ‘Hustle’”, is that you work hard every single day. It means you do the things other people won’t do, and you do them with a sense of joy and purpose because you love it. In this episode, you’ll meet Cristina Antelo, a real-life example of the word “hustle”, who lives by Thomas Edison’s motto, “Everything comes to h[er] who hustles while [she] waits.” Cristina shares her life’s journey and how she learned to hustle. Cristina Antelo is a founding principal and CEO at Ferox Strategies. She has spent more than a decade representing multinational corporations with her trademark hustle at Washington’s best-known government relations firms. From Wall Street to K Street, Cristina has set herself apart as a trusted advisor, skilled advocate, and effective negotiator who isn’t afraid of long, hard work. Featured in Washingtonian magazine in “Success Stories of Washingtonians of Latino and Hispanic Descent” and identified as a "Top Lawyer," “Power Player,” and “Most Influential 40 and Under Leader” in other regional publications, Cristina provides insider advice on how public policy is created and communicated.   Highlights: [02:35] Cristina’s journey [07:03] Gaining clarity on your path & purpose [13:11] Overcoming limiting beliefs [20:15] Building your story around your strengths [25:09] Cristina’s daily success habits [28:21] Decision making techniques [33:17] Building authentic relationships [38:57] Cristina’s advice on accelerating success   Quotes: “You will always get more information out of making a mistake than if you had done nothing out of fear of failing.” – Cristina Antelo “There is not enough Latino representation in all of the places where decision-making happens as it related to policy.” - Cristina Antelo “You can teach yourself anything. It doesn't matter what you know right now, in this moment, you just have to commit to learning.” – Cristina Antelo   About Cristina Antelo: A fierce believer in Thomas Edison’s, “Everything comes to h[er] who hustles while [she] waits,” Cristina Antelo is a founding principal at Ferox Strategies. Cristina has spent more than a decade representing multinational corporations with her trademark hustle at Washington’s best-known government relations firms. From Wall Street to K Street, Cristina has set herself apart as a trusted advisor, skilled advocate, and effective negotiator who isn’t afraid of long, hard work. She began her lobbying career in 2004, immediately representing Fortune 500 clients at top-ranked, bipartisan government and public affairs firms in Washington, D.C. Her past clients include major chain retailers, spirits companies, national theme and amusement parks, pharmaceutical firms, and nutrition and wellness companies. Her policy areas of expertise include financial services, tax, trade, border security, transportation and infrastructure, and crisis management. Featured in Washingtonian magazine in “Success Stories of Washingtonians of Latino and Hispanic Descent” and identified as a "Top Lawyer," “Power Player,” and “Most Influential 40 and Under Leader” in other regional publications, Cristina provides insider advice on how public policy is created and communicated. As a founding member and former President of the Hispanic Lobbyists Association and a long stint as the interim CEO of the non- profit Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), Cristina has served as both a leader and an advocate, promoting communication, ethics, education, and bipartisanship. Before transitioning to government relations, in the early 2000s Cristina worked as a Wall Street investment banker and wealth management advisor at major Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan. She also served as a legal fellow with the Senate Democratic Steering Committee, then chaired by former Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Tom Daschle (D-SD). Today, Cristina is active in charitable work, contributing her business acumen and political savvy on the Board of Directors of the CHCI, serving under Chairman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), as well as the board of the National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Action Fund supporting conservation of endangered species and habitats. Cristina further serves on the finance committee for the March of Dimes' annual Gourmet Gala, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars boosting maternal and infant health worldwide. Finally, Cristina is also on the Board of Directors for her alma mater, the Brooks School in North Andover, MA, and volunteers with Common Threads, focusing on nutrition education for children. A native Spanish speaker, Cristina was born in Dallas and graduated from Georgetown University and the George Washington University Law School. She is married with two young daughters, Havana and Brooklyn, who are fiercely loyal to any client that provides toys...or snacks...or anything with glitter. Links: Website: https://feroxstrategies.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinaantelo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsCEAntelo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceantelo/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ceantelo

True philanthropy requires a disruptive mindset, innovative thinking and an entrepreneurial drive to create opportunities. Ana Marie Argilagos embodies these competencies in spades. Ana Marie is the President and CEO of Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), a transnational network of foundations and philanthropists that make impactful investments in the Latino community in the U.S. and across Latin America. She is guiding HIP with a bold vision: to usher in a new generation of philanthropy that is for, by, and about the Latino community. Ana Marie has paved the way for a new era to democratize philanthropy. She is an entrepreneurial thinker bridging diverse agendas with a track record of working within the philanthropic, public, and nonprofit sectors. From the Ford Foundation, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Unidos US, the Annie E. Casey Foundation to HIP, she has led with her thoughtful curiosity to bridge diverse agendas. In this episode, Ana Marie shares her career journey and the importance of being open to opportunity and how her openness and willingness to veer away from a roadmap, led her to the exciting and fulfilling work of philanthropy.   Highlights: [02:37] Ana Marie’s journey [05:11] Gaining clarity on your career path [11:10] Building influential relationships [13:57] Identifying mentors and sponsors [16:27] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [19:38] Goalsetting and execution [22:46] Sharing your compelling story to gain advocacy [25:49] Hispanics in Philanthropy   Quotes: “Have direction, but don't have a roadmap that is so defined that you actually put blinders on yourself, because you might miss some of the opportunities.” – Ana Marie Argilagos “To disrupt, to reimagine, and rebuild, we need to build a system that listens to those with a lived experience.” - Ana Marie Argilagos “Trust is key in collective problem solving.” – Ana Marie Argilagos   About Ana Marie Argilagos: As President and CEO of Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) - a network of foundations and philanthropists that makes impactful investments in the Latinx community in the U.S. and across Latin America - Ana Marie has paved the way for a new era to democratize philanthropy. From the Ford Foundation, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Unidos US, to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, she has led with her thoughtful curiosity to bridge diverse agendas. Ana Marie’s trajectory is a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit that seeks to center Latinx voices and leadership. She currently resides in Washington, DC with her husband Rodger and cat Alfie.   Links: Website: https://hiponline.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-marie-argilagos-4747804/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AM_Argilagos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anamarieargilagos/ HIP’s Mackenzie Scott gift: https://hiponline.org/mackenzie-scott-gifts-15m-to-hispanics-in-philanthropy/  

We all know those who seem to easily command a room with their charisma and confidence. This is referred to as executive presence, and yes, it can be learned. In this episode, we share the 3 aspects of executive presence as taught by expert, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, as well as tips and strategies for you to gain executive presence and gravitas. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and links. Highlights: [00:58] What is executive presence [01:06] Sylvia Ann Hewlett: 3 aspects of executive presence [07:24] How Nikki & Monica developed executive presence [12:29] Exhibiting executive presence remotely [14:22] Your choice of words matter Quotes: “90% of communication is how you deliver your message and 10% are the words you use to share your message.” – Monica Marquez “Being deliberate and thoughtful when you are speaking will help you develop executive presence.” – Nikki Barua “Your ability to signal preparedness to someone through your executive presence really comes down to creating a sense of certainty and inspiring confidence in the other person by how you show up.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is a senior corporate leader, ex-Googler, and diversity expert. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

You hear it all the time from super successful people, long before they were running multimillion-dollar companies, they were strengthening their entrepreneurial muscle by selling lemonade on the corner, inventing the next “big thing” in their garage or helping their parents or grandparents run the “mom and pop” family business after school. It seems that for most successful people, whether they are working for a company or running their own company, the entrepreneurial mindset sets them apart from the rest. In this episode, you’ll meet Lauren Sweeney, Founder and CEO of Dotted Line, who shares her own story of growing up in a family of small business owners and how developing her entrepreneurial mindset helped her succeed in her corporate career and ultimately gave her the courage to follow her passion and start her own business. Dotted Line is a creative marketing company focused on helping businesses connect brands to people.  Their client roster includes Fortune 1000 companies in financial services, healthcare, real estate and development, consumer goods and services, and health and beauty.   Highlights: [02:36] Lauren’s journey [04:48] Making the decision to become an entrepreneur [06:33] Overcoming your fears and limiting beliefs [09:32] Identifying your strengths, passion and purpose [12:36] Asking your community for help [14:36] How to ask for someone’s time and knowledge [16:36] Creating your personal brand [19:27] Advice on dreaming big [22:00] Turning failures into lessons for success [24:35] Lauren’s success habits [28:39] How to make the decision to delegate   Quotes: “Changing your mindset to embrace failure gives you the freedom to dream big.” – Lauren Sweeney “Know who you are, what you believe, and where you are headed.” – Lauren Sweeney “When you ask for someone’s advice, share with them how you used it.” - Lauren Sweeney   About Lauren Sweeney: Lauren Sweeney is Founder and CEO of Dotted Line, a creative marketing company. After graduating with dual degrees in Economics and Art History from a liberal arts school in Virginia, she worked in communications for a Fortune 200 financial services company. Lauren launched Dotted Line in 2014, and since then the firm has grown into a full-service agency serving 50+ clients at a national scale in financial services, healthcare, real estate and development, consumer goods and services, and health and beauty. Lauren has been recognized as a 2017 Tory Burch Foundation Fellow with global fashion powerhouse, Tory Burch. Lauren’s involvement with Tory Burch has garnered press in MSNBC, WWD, and regional publications. Lauren uses the Tory Burch Foundation opportunity to raise awareness for entrepreneurship and women-owned businesses at events such as the 3% Conference and the Southern C Conference, as well as at educational institutions like Virginia Commonwealth University and surrounding colleges and universities. Lauren serves on the boards for Needle’s Eye Ministries. Lauren is a proud wife of a fellow entrepreneur, a stepmother of a towering teenage boy, and a new mom to a 1-year old. The Sweeney family is actively involved at Hope Church in Richmond, Virginia. They enjoy outdoor activities and traveling. Recent adventures have taken them hiking in Utah, exploring the Holy Land in Israel, or traveling to Iceland. About Dotted Line: Dotted Line is a creative marketing company focused on helping businesses connect brands to people. Started by Founder and CEO at the age of 26, Lauren founded a new model agency for today’s advertising world. Dotted Lines’ client roster includes Fortune 1000 companies in financial services, healthcare, real estate and development, consumer goods and services, and health and beauty. Today, Dotted Line services 50+ clients with a staff of 15.   Links: Website: https://dottedline.agency/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dotted-line-collaborations/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dottedline.agency/  

Imagine you’re at the edge of a freezing cold plunge pool. Would you dive right in? Or would you hesitate and maybe just dip your toe in the water? Our guest, Anand Verma, likes to dive right in! Anand is a visionary leader, award-winning digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, and investor–and he believes that if you want to innovate in the digital age, you have to dive right in and embrace change no matter how scary and uncomfortable it may be. Anand is the Co-founder of LeapX, a Design and AI startup dedicated to creating a carbon neutral world. Previously, he was the Founder and CEO of Brilliant Basics, an award winning Global Digital and Innovation company that was acquired by Infosys. Anand also led Infosys’ digital capabilities in EMEA and was a part of the Infosys leadership team. Prior to Brilliant Basics, Anand was one of the youngest CEO's at Interpublic Group (IPG) leading IPG Media brands Ventures in EMEA. He also held leadership roles at Sapient, AKQA and Modem Media. Anand has a track record of leading through disruptive change. In this episode, he shares what it means to be entrepreneurial, how to navigate uncertainty, why companies must be purpose-led, and how to build winning teams. He is a passionate advocate for diversity as the fuel for innovation and a champion for women in leadership. That’s why we are so proud to have him on the Beyond Barriers advisory board to guide us on our mission. Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/ where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Anand.   Highlights: [03:07] Anand’s story of entrepreneurship [09:24] Most important lessons learned [12:57] Being a builder vs an operator [15:45] How confidence is built [21:32] Anand’s current focus – bringing AI and design together [25:00] Gaining support from sponsors and advocates [27:25] Why diversity matters [35:54] Biggest trends to follow [38:28] How to prepare for future trends   Quotes: “Perfectionism is the biggest killer of any business.” – Anand Verma  “Confidence and credibility go hand in hand.” - Anand Verma  “Every day is a good day for doing and learning something new.” – Anand Verma    About Anand Verma: Anand is the Co-founder of LeapX, a Design and AI startup dedicated to creating a carbon neutral world. Prior to his recent ventures, he was the Owner, Founder and CEO of Brilliant Basics (acquired by Infosys), an award winning Global Digital and Innovation company headquartered in London with studios all over the world. Successfully acquired by Infosys in 2017 to accelerate Design and Innovation for Infosys and its clients globally. Anand also led Infosys’ digital capabilities in EMEA and was a part of the Infosys leadership team. He is also deeply involved with leading design school and university partnerships for Infosys. Anand is a digital visionary, innovator and successful entrepreneur who understands new products and services, revenue growth, operations and people. He has over 20 years’ experience in management consulting, digital and tech businesses. Anand has built a successful career by consistently delivering value through digital and customer-centricity. He loves creating value by reducing complexity in the digital world at both speed x scale. Prior to founding Brilliant Basics, Anand was one of the youngest Presidents and CEO's at Interpublic Group (IPG) leading IPG Mediabrands Ventures in EMEA, a global advertising and media conglomerate where he led digital Operations, Innovative Products and Services and M&A. And previous to that he held leadership roles at Sapient (now a part of Publicis), AKQA (now a part of WPP) and Modem Media (now a part of Publicis). Anand is an active investor, adviser, non-exec board director, academia, podcast host and speaker. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandverma/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/anandverma  

How much time a week do you invest in learning something new? What is your yearly budget for investing in yourself? The shelf life of skills today is just 18 months. What is in demand today will likely not be in demand a year and a half from now. In this episode, we share why it is important to become a lifelong learner and 3 tips for learning that will keep you abreast of what skills will be needed in the future so you can make sure that you aren’t left behind. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode.   Highlights: [00:48] The meaning of lifelong learning [01:42] The shelf-life of skills today [03:19] Companies need a culture of learning [05:06] Just-in-time learning [06:50] It isn’t just about the technical skills [07:31] The most powerful skill [08:43] Know your learning style [09:01] Nikki’s tips on the best ways to learn   Quotes: “A culture and mindset of lifelong learning is essential for success.” – Nikki Barua “Shift your mindset from all-knowing to always-learning.” – Nikki Barua “You are your best investment, make sure you are dedicating time for your growth every week.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is a senior corporate leader, ex-Googler, and diversity expert. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Do you have a hard time saying no to people for fear of letting them down? Do you find yourself seeking the approval of others? Are you driven to seek validation and avoid rejection? In this episode, we discuss the negative impact of people-pleasing on your career and share three simple principles you can apply to overcome approval addiction. Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes for this episode.  Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.    Highlights: [00:47] What is approval addiction [03:36] Impact of approval addiction [04:53] The value of being a contrarian [06:19] Leaders need to be decisive [08:07] The halo effect [11:19] Stop being a people-pleaser   Quotes: “When you have absolute certainty and conviction in your beliefs, you will care less about people-pleasing.” – Nikki Barua “You can’t be influential if you are afraid to put your own point of view out there.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is a senior corporate leader, ex-Googler, and diversity expert. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

We all have a superpower, but we don’t always know what it is, how to use it, or even when to use it. But when you get this right, and learn to harness your superpower, your impact becomes exponential. Meet Fran Maier, serial entrepreneur, known for growing iconic businesses like TRUSTe and Match.com.  Fran shares how her superpower as a brand builder made her such a huge success and helped her create global impact. Fran is now the CEO of BabyQuip and her superpower as a brand builder has already made the company the leading baby gear rental service for traveling families. Fran is a legendary entrepreneur and has won numerous awards and accolades. She was honored by the Stanford Graduate School of Business with the Jerry I. Porras Latino Leadership Award, named one of “100 Most Influential Women in Technology” by Hot Topics. San Francisco Business Times named Fran among the 150 Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business and AlwaysOn named her among the Top 25 Women in Tech to Watch in Silicon Valley. In this episode, Fran shares why it’s important to know your strengths and take ownership of what’s in your control. She also reveals the lessons she has learned in her career and the principles she follows as a leader. Fran is applying all of these principles as she leads BabyQuip in changing lives and improving the way families travel.   Highlights: [02:47] Fran’s superpower [05:54] The story of Match.com [09:04] Keeping brand values in alignment with business decisions [10:40] Defining company culture [13:07] Biggest lessons learned [18:39] The pros and cons of being early to market [20:23] How does BabyQuip serve the community [30:47] The effects of the pandemic on BabyQuip [33:41] Empowering women as independent business owners [37:17] Who should female entrepreneurs listen to for advice [41:20] Lesson learned from working with investors [42:38] Taking ownership of what’s in our control [46:35] Vision for BabyQuip [48:02] The question brand builders should be asking   Quotes: “Be confident and allow yourself to be vulnerable and ask for help.” – Fran Maier  “Always be open to listening to everyone’s advice, but have the conviction to decide for yourself.” – Fran Maier   About Fran Maier: Fran Maier is CEO and Founder of BabyQuip, the leading baby gear rental service for traveling families and now offering local cleaning services too. She is a serial entrepreneur and brand builder with over 25 years experience in B2C and B2B internet businesses. She is best known for her 10+ years leading TRUSTe (now TrustArc), the leading privacy trustmark and compliance provider, and as Co-Founder and first General Manager of Match.com. Fran speaks widely on several topics relating to women in business, including opportunities for women in the collaborative economy, addressing the lucrative family travel segment, women in entrepreneurship and on boards. She serves as an advisor to many start-ups including Portfolia, Women’s Start-up Lab, Sign-up.com, Kango, and Dabbl. Fran is featured as an expert in the documentary film about entrepreneurship entitled “She Started It.” With Emmy Award winning journalist Kym McNicholas, she hosted a radio show/podcast called "Female Seeking Start-up" which featured interviews with female entrepreneurs. In 2016, Fran was honored by the Stanford Graduate School of Business with the Jerry I. Porras Latino Leadership Award. In 2015, she was named one of “100 Most Influential Women in Technology” by Hot Topics. In 2011, San Francisco Business Times named Fran among the 150 Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business and in 2010, AlwaysOn named her among the Top 25 Women in Tech to Watch in Silicon Valley.  She served on the board of GE Capital Bank until it was sold in 2016. In addition, she is a Member of Women Corporate Directors and is former Chair of the Steering Committee for Stanford Women on Boards. In 2012, Fran completed the Stanford Rock Center for Corporate Governance Director's College. Fran holds a BA and MBA from Stanford University. She lives in San Francisco and Santa Fe and is the mother of two grown sons. Links: Website: https://www.babyquip.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franmaier/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/franmaier  

Imagine you’re at an event or in an elevator, and you get introduced to a VIP that you’re honored to meet. Then they ask that dreaded question: Tell me about yourself. The typical default is to respond with your name, title, employer and work focus, right? Imagine you no longer have that job or title. How would you tell your story? When we’re asked to introduce ourselves, we often miss the opportunity to share our story in a powerful way that makes us stand out and highlights our unique value proposition. Instead, we respond to that question with our work history that explains our WHAT but not our WHY. In this episode, you’ll meet Lisa Gates, a leadership and career story coach, and founder of Story Happens Here, a practice focused on helping women master their brand stories, control their narratives, and rise up. Lisa is committed to helping women be seen, heard, promoted—and rewarded—as the agents of change the workplace and the world is dying to see. Lisa stresses the importance of being able to morph your story for any situation that you are in. And how your story isn’t a one-time thing but rather a living breathing story that can always change. Lisa has also authored several online courses available at LinkedIn Learning, including Asking for a Raise, Negotiation Foundations, Conflict Resolution Foundations, Coaching and Developing Employees, and Coaching for Results.   Highlights: [02:50] Lisa’s story [09:21] The key to building your story [12:57] Techniques for overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [19:46] Overcoming failures and setbacks [24:23] Making decisions with confidence [27:46] Gaining access to influential leaders [30:00] Lisa’s daily success habits [33:48] Advice on staying ahead of the curve   Quotes: “Confidence comes from repetition, practice, and advocating for yourself and others.” – Lisa Gates  “Be diligent about spending time every week cultivating your influence.” - Lisa Gates  “If it’s not on your calendar, it’s not going to happen.” – Lisa Gates  “You will forget something you learn in about three days if you don’t start to implement it.” – Lisa Gates    About Lisa Gates: Lisa is a leadership and career story coach, and founder of Story Happens Here, a practice focused on helping women master their brand stories, control their narratives, and rise up. Lisa is committed to helping women be seen, heard, promoted—and rewarded—as the agents of change the workplace and the world is dying to see. She is a certified co-active coach with training in mediation, negotiation, conflict resolution, and Strength Finders. Prior to launching Story Happens Here in 2019, she was co-founder of the negotiation consultancy She Negotiates, which she ran for 10 years. In addition to her work in marketing and public relations, Lisa holds a degree in theatre and a minor in journalism and has performed in countless plays, torn up the boards in several improv troupes, and participated in storytelling events for over 40 years. Lisa has authored several online courses available at LinkedIn Learning, including Asking for a Raise, Negotiation Foundations, Conflict Resolution Foundations, Coaching and Developing Employees, and Coaching for Results.   Links: Website: https://www.storyhappenshere.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisagates/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaGates1  

Is self-doubt preventing you from following your dreams? Are you a high-achiever who struggles with feelings of inadequacy? In the 1970s, two researchers, Dr. Suzanne Imes and Dr. Pauline Rose Clance, embarked on researching the characteristics of high-achieving women. What they found was that despite all of these women’s accomplishments, all of their achievements, there was this level of self-doubt. This became known as Imposter Syndrome, which affects 70% of all people. Following in their footsteps, Dr. Valerie Young, expanded on their research and introduced 5 Archetypes of Imposter Syndrome and how they present. In this episode, we'll share how you can discover your imposter syndrome archetype, what you must do to boost your confidence, and why imposter syndrome can be a career killer. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and links, including the best way to connect with our guests.   Highlights: [00:41] Beyond Barriers Mission [01:17] About Monica Marquez [03:28] About Nikki Barua [06:21] What is imposter syndrome [09:42] What the research has taught us [12:22] 5 archetypes of imposter syndrome [24:18] Mindset affects propensity to experience imposter syndrome [25:33] Strategies for each archetype [27:27] Tools for overcoming imposter syndrome   Quotes: “Be aware that by simply change your physical stance and changing your state, you actually show up more confident even if you're not feeling it in that moment.” – Nikki Barua “If someone pays you a compliment, write it down and add it to an ongoing list over time.” – Nikki Barua “In this digital age of technology, realize that you're not going to know everything and be committed to constantly evolving and always learning.” – Monica Marquez “When you find yourself procrastinating, pause, and take a moment to ask yourself, are you pushing something out that you don’t want to deal with?” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is a senior corporate leader, ex-Googler, and diversity expert. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Have you ever felt stuck in a career but didn’t know how to make a change? Do you wonder how to position yourself effectively for a future role? Our guest, Janet Van Huysse, SVP, Chief People Officer at Cloudflare, shares how she changed careers by leveraging transferrable skills and how you can do the same. Janet started out as a school teacher in Illinois with a dream to move to California. But when she finally got there, she realized that she couldn’t afford the cost of living as a teacher and had to work nights and weekends at a small internet company. She needed a long-term sustainable solution and after exploring her options, she decided to pursue a career in HR. Her only challenge? She had no training or experience in the field! In this episode, you’ll learn the steps that Janet took to make a career change and how it helped her achieve her dreams and accelerate success. Today, Janet leads the HR function at Cloudflare, including recruiting efforts. A veteran HR leader with over twenty years of experience in technology, Janet was the first VP of HR at Twitter, as well as the company's VP of Diversity & Inclusion. Janet is also the co-founder of TendLab, a venture seeking to transform the workplace by unleashing the power and potential of working parents.   Highlights: [02:24] Janet’s journey [09:26] Overcoming setbacks [11:43] Identifying your transferrable skills [15:16] Overcoming your fears and limiting beliefs [20:43] The importance of Employee Resource Groups [26:35] Tips on executing effectively [30:39] Janet’s daily success habits [33:30] What holds women back [36:01] Accelerating success in the digital age   Quotes: “Call out that inner critic that is sabotaging you.” – Janet Van Huysse “When presenting something or a new proposal, make sure that 60 to 80% of the people in that room have seen it beforehand.” – Janet Van Huysse “Ask yourself what are the three most important things that you need to do today and focus on those.” - Janet Van Huysse “It is important to tell people where you want to go.” – Janet Van Huysse   About Janet Van Huysse: Janet Van Huysse is the Head of People at Cloudflare, where she leads the HR function, including recruiting efforts. A veteran HR leader with over twenty years of experience in technology, Janet was the first VP of HR at Twitter, as well as the company's VP of Diversity & Inclusion. Janet is also the co-founder of TendLab, a venture seeking to transform the workplace by unleashing the power and potential of working parents.   Links: Website: https://www.cloudflare.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetvh/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/janetvh  

Is the glass half full or half empty? Based on your answer, you are assessed as either an optimist or a pessimist, revealing your level of “happiness”. In this episode, Silvia Garcia, former International Marketing Director and President of the Happiness Institute of Coca-Cola, challenges us that both answers are wrong. The glass is refillable! And anyone can refill their own glass if they focus on the 8 pillars that science attributes to happiness. As the former President of the Happiness Institute at Coca-Cola, Silvia has studied how positive and negative emotions influence consumer and employees’ decisions. Using the first scientific index of happiness at work, Silvia proves the impact of increasing employees’ happiness at work on business results. She is one of the top worldwide leaders on happiness at work and is invited every year by the United Nations to discuss the state of happiness in the world.   Highlights: [02:24] Silvia’s journey [06:41] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [09:32] Happiness and success go hand in hand [11:18] Tips for happiness [15:58] 8 pillars that science attributes to happiness [24:13] Celebrating yourself [26:03] Have your network of cheerleaders [29:13] Overcoming failures and setbacks [31:52] Silvia’s daily success habits [34:53] Staying ahead of the curve   Quotes: “When you avoid the things that are causing you pain, you are also avoiding the path to feeling well.” – Silvia Garcia  “Happiness is always more than one person, whether you are feeling good or feeling bad, you need to share with others.” - Silvia Garcia  “Remind yourself that failures are lessons for the future.” – Silvia Garcia  “If you don’t have challenges that are bigger than you, then there will be no learning.” – Silvia Garcia    About Silvia Garcia: As former International Marketing Director and President of the Happiness Institute of Coca-Cola, Silvia studied how positive and negative emotions influence consumer and employees’ decisions. Silvia has inspired millions of people to do what it takes to increase sales, attract and keep more customers, build longer-lasting, healthier relationships, strengthen their leadership skills and become more profitable, happier and successful than they ever thought possible. Using the first scientific index of happiness at work, Silvia proves the impact of increasing employees' happiness at work on business results and creates new brands and products that gain immediate consumer love. Highly demanded by companies all around the world, her speeches have been said to change “​lives and companies​”.  Silvia is one of the top worldwide leaders on happiness at work and, as such, she is annually invited by the United Nations to discuss the estate of happiness in the world. She is a foresighted and humorous storyteller who enjoys simplifying big, complex ideas to make them actionable for a wide range of audiences. She is known for her keynotes given in companies around the world. She is described by clients from sectors like banking, food, sharing economy, media, and various universities and business schools as a “standout favorite for audiences”, with a “rare and visionary intellect”. Links: Website: https://www.happiestplacestowork.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvia-garcia-barnechea/  

This is our last podcast episode of the year. We are so grateful, honored and blown away by the amazing podcast guests we've had the opportunity to interview since our launch in February. And what better way to close out the year then to share with you a recap of some of the best and inspirational seeds of wisdom that our guests planted for all of our listeners. In this episode, Nikki and Monica discuss how the Beyond Barriers Podcast came to life, the milestones we’ve reached, and nuggets of wisdom from our most popular guest episodes.  We’d like to wish you a very Happy New Year from Beyond Barriers! Thank you for supporting us and our community of women worldwide.   Highlights: [01:02] Launching a new podcast [02:16] Thank you to our community [03:44] Recap of our most popular podcasts episodes [18:57] Happy New Year from Beyond Barriers   Quotes: “Just by sharing your vision, you may not need to ask for help.” – Ginny Clarke “You can't raise your net worth until you raise your self-worth.” – Audrey Bellis “The life that you want is on the other side of a difficult conversation.” – AmyK Hutchens “It's about talking to the right person at the right time about the right opportunity.” – Sarah Johnston “Figure out what your self-promotional gift is and how it's going to help other people.” – Dr. Nashater Del Solheim “Don't let a crisis pivot you from your true north.” – Carina Edwards “The more you try to fit into a mold that wasn't made for you, the more energy you have to expend.” – Annie Jean-Baptiste “We don't have failures, we have experiences and lessons learned.” – Iliana Quinonez “Talk about your work like you're your own best friend.” – Judith Williams “Sometimes others see something in you that you may not see in yourself, and you need to be open to them.” – Gail Fierstein “It doesn't matter whether you feel confident, it matters what you actually do.” – Kara Goldin “Asking for help allows others to know where they can use their superpowers to help you.” – Tami Rosen “Your ability to have power and influence is limited when no one knows what you've done.” – Mallun Yen “Having courage of voice empowers you when you take ownership of your own ideas.” – Melonie Parker “When someone gives you feedback, make it comfortable for them to give you feedback again.” – Anilu Vazquez-Ubarri “Exceptional leaders do not want to be the smartest person in the room.” – Katie O’Reilly “You can't be every woman every day.” – Gizelle George-Joseph “Put your own comfort aside so that you can create comfort for someone else.” – Daisy Auger-Dominguez “Part of securing the seat at the table is owning the space that you want to create.” – Minda Harts   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

It's less than two weeks until the end of the year. We are in the midst of the holiday season – a time for celebration, community, giving, and reflection. It is also a time for planning for success in the new year. In this episode, Nikki reflects back on 2020 and shares memorable moments, new competencies she’d developed over the year, and her lifelong planning rituals that help her reach her goals in the new year. And finally, as the year comes to a close, we would like to thank our listeners for your support and ask you to help us to empower even more women worldwide. Podcast subscriptions and ratings affect the visibility of content on popular platforms, especially on Apple. It takes less than 2 minutes and it’s easy. Please help! Here are 3 simple steps to Subscribe, Rate, and Review. 1. Click here your iPhone or Desktop. 2. Click on “SUBSCRIBE”. 3. Scroll down below ALL episodes and you will see “Ratings and Reviews” on the iPhone.   Click the stars to rate and then write a review. Thank you for your support and for this precious holiday gift to our community!   Highlights: [01:02] Nikki’s reflection on the year [06:50] What Nikki learned this year [14:09] 3 questions Nikki asks herself at year end [18:01] Nikki’s ritual in planning for the new year [25:12] Nikki’s vision for 2021   Quotes: “Within every crisis there is opportunity.” – Nikki Barua “Nothing mobilizes a group of people more than coming together and uniting around a common cause.” – Nikki Barua “You can’t control everything that is coming your way, but you can control your response.” – Nikki Barua “With focus and sustained commitment, anything is possible.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Kamala Harris recently shared that her mother always reminded her that, “You may be the first to do many things, but make sure you’re not the last.” Being a pioneer is hard. It means pushing through boundaries and overcoming great challenges, often times alone. In this episode, Ileana Musa, Co-Head of International Wealth Management and the Head of International Banking & Lending at Morgan Stanley, shares what it was like growing up as a young Latina immigrant in a single parent home and how education and a strong work ethic laid the foundation to achieve her career aspirations. Ileana also shares why staying true to yourself and sharing your authentic story leads to awareness and stronger relationships, which ultimately leads to opportunity.   Highlights: [03:30] Ileana’s story [05:16] Decision to pursue a career in financial services [07:40] Ileana’s daily success habits [10:10] Building your personal brand [17:42] Gaining access to influential leaders [23:30] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [29:43] Executing on your new opportunity [37:14] Advice on staying ahead of the curve   Quotes: “Sharing your story helps others to share their stories.” – Ileana Musa “It's up to each of us to paint the picture of what the future holds.” – Ileana Musa “When you give back to other employees as it relates to their development, people take notice, and that ultimately gives you access.” – Ileana Musa “Think about what you bring to the table and how you can then build a meaningful connection.” – Ileana Musa “The sooner you fail, the sooner you are going to learn.” – Ileana Musa   About Ileana Musa: Ileana Musa is the Co-Head of International Wealth Management and the Head of International Banking & Lending. In this role she leads the segment and strategy that focuses on Morgan Stanley’s International Client Advisors and international clients to ensure they have access to strategic investment, cash management and lending solutions, services and thought leadership to address both sides of a client’s balance sheet. Ileana is a member of Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management Management Committee, Wealth Management Operating Committee, Latin America Management Committee, US Banks Management Committee, and the Bank Leadership Committee. Ileana co-chairs the enterprise Latino Employee Network. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley she was the Global Client Segment and Strategy executive for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this capacity, Ileana focused on international financial advisors to ensure the delivery of a consistent, goals-based wealth management experience for international high-net-worth and ultra-high-net worth clients. Prior to this role, Ileana was head of International Credit & Banking within Bank of America’s Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM) Banking group. In this role, she led the teams that supported and delivered integrated liquidity, cash management and lending solutions and services to financial advisors and high-net-worth clients in Latin America, Asia and Europe. Ileana held several leadership roles in the domestic, international and affluent banking platforms at Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, where she lent her talent in growing the cross-border wealth management business. Ileana received her BBA degree, with a concentration in finance, from the University of Miami and an M.B.A. degree in finance from Florida International University. Ileana is fluent in Spanish, is FINRA registered and is Six-Sigma Greenbelt certified. Ileana was recently named to the Girl Scouts National Board (GSUSA) and sits on the Corporate Advisory Boards of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), Florida International University Honors College and the Cuban Heritage Collection at the University of Miami. Ileana was named to the ‘Top 100 Most Influential Latinas’ List in 2020 by Latino Leaders. Last year she was recognized to the 2019 MAKERS class of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management as well as being recognized by Latino Justice with the 2019 Latina Trailblazer Award honoring her professional and personal achievements in opening doors and new opportunities for other professionals. Additionally, Ileana was named to ALPFA’s 2019 Most Powerful Latinas in corporate America list for a third year in a row as previously featured in Fortune magazine. In 2016 Ileana was awarded the 2015 Top 10 Corporate Executives of the Year by Latina Style magazine. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ileanamusa3  

This has been an incredibly challenging year. We're navigating new circumstances in an uncertain environment. Some of us are not only dealing with everyday responsibilities, but also taking care of others – whether it’s child care, or elder care. In these situations, one of the first things that we let go of is self-care. After all, when time and energy is limited, how do you even find the time to focus on yourself? In this episode, we're going to talk about why self-care is even more important when you're caring for others, and provide tips on taking care of yourself. Highlights: [00:41] Challenges of today [02:27] Monica shares her story of elder care [03:08] Effects of not practicing self-care [05:48] Hitting pause and changing trajectory [09:19] 3 key takeaways   Quotes: “Draw boundaries with yourself and others on what is possible, reasonable and feasible.” – Nikki Barua “Make sure that you do something to nourish yourself daily.” – Nikki Barua “Self-care shifts caring for others from a burden to a privilege.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Have you ever felt like an outsider that didn’t belong even after you earned a seat at the table? Our guest Mallun Yen has faced and successfully overcome this challenge over and over again in her career. She reveals how being an outsider fueled her creativity and helped her tap into the power of community to find breakthrough solutions. She was able to think outside the box because she didn’t even know there was a box! Mallun is the Founder and Partner of Operator Collective, a $50M venture fund that brings together senior operators from diverse backgrounds as Limited Partners. This is a group critical to a startup’s success but largely absent from the historically white male venture industry. Mallun has assembled a close knit community of 130 incredibly talented Operator LPs who have built up the world's most admired companies like Zoom, Stripe, Salesforce and Slack. 90% of the LPs are women, and more than 40% of them are people of color! Prior to Operator Collective, Mallun was Vice President at Cisco, founding team member at multiple category-creating startups, including RPX ($0 to $100M & IPO in 3 years) and SaaStr (world’s largest b2b software community). In this episode, Mallun discusses why building powerful communities is the key to changing the status quo and what has helped her bring people together for a common cause. She also shares her bold vision of an inclusive world where every dreamer and every doer can go beyond barriers.   Highlights: [02:57] Mallun’s career journey [11:57] Being an outsider can be an asset [18:30] What makes the Operator Collective different from traditional VC funds [23:37] Solving for the gender gap in investors [31:57] Facilitating power, wealth and influence for women [37:59] Asking your community for help [48:02] Advice on expanding your personal network [53:39] Mallun’s biggest dream for the future   Quotes: “Being the outsider allows you to think outside of the box.” – Mallun Yen “Your ability to have power and influence is limited when no one knows what you’ve done.” – Mallun Yen “When you start a relationship that is both personal and business-related, it is much more natural to continue having the business part of it.” – Mallun Yen “Be deliberate in building your relationships.” – Mallun Yen “You can treat people well, put culture first, build relationships, and still build an ultra-successful company.” – Mallun Yen About Mallun Yen: Mallun Yen is the Founder and Partner of Operator Collective, a $50M fund that brings together as LPs a group critical to a startup’s success but largely absent from the historically male and white venture industry: senior operators from diverse backgrounds. Beyond having assembled a close knit community of 130 mind-bogglingly talented Operator LPs who have built up the world's most admired companies like Zoom, Stripe, Salesforce and Slack, notably and deliberately 90% of the LPs are women, and more than 40% of them are people of color.  Previously a Cisco Vice President, Mallun has built up multiple successful, category-creating startups, including as part of the founding teams at venture-backed RPX ($0 to $100M & IPO in 3 years) and SaaStr (world’s largest b2b software community). Links: Website: https://operatorcollective.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallun/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malynyn/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mallun  

Did you know that 92% of people who set new year’s resolutions never achieve them? In this episode, we explore how planning can help you achieve your goals. We also discuss different styles of planning and whether to plan or not to plan.  You’ll learn how planning can save you time and energy, and provide relief from stress. You’ll also learn the steps of planning to set yourself up for success. Highlights: [01:09] I am not a planner [04:29] Downside of not planning [06:52] Steps for planning   Quotes: “Taking the time to plan up front will save you a great deal of time in the future.” – Nikki Barua “Creating a plan allows you to anticipate the future, explore your options, and get leverage.” – Nikki Barua “Good planning is about anticipating the worst case scenario and rather than assuming the best case scenario.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Do you worry about what other people think of you? Have you let your fear of judgment get in the way of leading with courage? Research has shown that when people are their authentic selves at work, they are less likely to feel stalled in their careers, more likely to be promoted and advance in their career, and more likely to build a strong sense of trust with their employers, peers and team. In this episode, you’ll meet Katie O’Reilly, fearless leader and Executive Director at the Milken Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan think tank on a mission to increase global prosperity by providing access to capital, creating jobs and improving health. Katie shares how being unapologetically authentic helped her earn the trust and respect of powerful global leaders, lead her team of change agents, and make massive impact in the world. Katie reveals her own challenges and how she stepped into her personal power after overcoming self-doubt and fears. Katie shares her perspective on the importance of taking chances in your life and career, always learning and growing, and building and nurturing your relationship network. In her role as Executive Director at the Milken Institute, Katie has overseen the international expansion of the Institute’s major initiatives globally. The Milken Institute convenes the world’s leading CEOs, institutional investors and government leaders for solutions-oriented dialogues about pressing social and economic challenges while also producing independent, data-driven research and crafting meaningful policy initiatives. Katie has spent more than 15 years working with leading organizations in the NGO, philanthropic and corporate space. She began her career as a community organizer and policy analyst for the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness and served as Senior Fundraiser for United Way. Active in many organizations, Katie currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery. She is co-chair of the U.S. Board of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. She also serves on the advisory board of Pocket Patient, a patient-centered, digital medical platform for the developing world.   Highlights: [03:33] Katie’s story [08:26] Connecting in your career and finding your place [23:39] Advice on being your authentic self in difficult situations [25:59] Overcoming imposter syndrome [28:59] Practical tips for business development [30:02] How to open the conversation [33:11] Nurturing your relationships [36:01] Common traits of exceptional leaders [40:13] Most exciting trends for the future [44:05] Biggest barriers that hold women back [47:32] Katie’s success habit   Quotes: “When you're thinking about your career, try not to think TOO big, because it's about the day to day and what you enjoy doing every day.” – Katie O’Reilly “The best advice for your career is to be curious.” – Katie O’Reilly “You have to be vulnerable to be a great leader.” – Katie O’Reilly “Getting outside of your comfort zone will turbocharge your learning.” – Katie O’Reilly “Exceptional leaders do not want to be the smartest person in the room.” – Katie O’Reilly   About Katie O’Reilly: Kathryn (Katie) O'Reilly is an Executive Director at the Milken Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with offices in Washington D.C., London, and Singapore. The Institute’s mission is to increase global prosperity by advancing collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs and improve health. The Institute convenes the world’s leading CEOs, institutional investors and government leaders for solutions-oriented dialogues about pressing social and economic challenges while also producing independent, data-driven research and crafting meaningful policy initiatives. Since joining the Institute in 2007, O’Reilly has overseen the international expansion of the Institute’s major initiatives and leads teams engaged in relationship management and program development globally. More specifically, she creates strategies for engaging in the work of the Milken Institute for a global network of supporters including financial institutions, corporations, foundations and individual philanthropists. In the area of program development, O’Reilly fosters collaborations across a variety of topics including capital market development, medical philanthropy, disease research and capital access. From Financial Innovations Labs to conference panels and workshops, O’Reilly leads efforts which bring together leaders from different sectors and regions to design and implement market-based solutions to global challenges. She has spent more than 15 years working with leading organizations in the NGO, philanthropic and corporate space on crafting partnerships while also helping companies and individuals leverage their philanthropic investments. She began her career as a community organizer and policy analyst for the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness and served as Senior Fundraiser for United Way. Active in many organizations, O'Reilly currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, which coordinates a global strategy to permanently dismantle slavery systems and is co- chair of the U.S. Board of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the largest child health research institute in Australia and one of the top three worldwide. She also serves on the advisory board of Pocket Patient, a patient-centered, digital medical platform for the developing world. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and served as an Americorps volunteer for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-o-reilly-2b57894/  

Did you know that for every 100 men promoted or hired into a role as a first-time manager, only 72 women are promoted or hired? The imbalance is greater for women of color, with only 68 Latinas and 58 black women hired to managerial roles per 100 men. A survey conducted by Lean In and McKinsey in 2019 revealed that women are not getting hired at the same scale, promoted at the same pace, nor paid at the same rate as men. While there are many institutional reasons for this gender gap that may not be in your control, here’s something that is - taking ownership of your successes! In this episode, we share how you can demonstrate your impact, put yourself in a better position to be hired, promoted and compensated well, and stop being the best kept secret!   Highlights: [00:41] Hiring statistics [01:52] Why achievements of women executives are less visible [04:08] The struggle with promoting yourself [08:44] Make your greatest hits list   Quotes: “There are things known, and there are things that are unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” – Monica Marquez “When you finish a project, you must share your results with a little self-promotion to gain the necessary visibility to advance.” – Monica Marquez “Every accomplishment builds upon the previous one and amplifies your value to the world.” – Monica Marquez “Your reputation allows other people to know how you can help them.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Have you ever experienced the “Resume Black Hole”? That dreaded abyss your resume falls victim to when you click “submit” after spending countless exhaustive hours searching and applying for numerous jobs online. And then, you sit and wait, and wait some more, only to get nothing but those automated “thank you” confirmation receipt emails. That’s it, nothing. Nothing but frustration and disappointment. Sound familiar? In this episode, you’ll meet Jena Viviano, and hear her perspective on how to avoid the “black hole” and land your dream job. Jena is a career coach and entrepreneur who knows what it’s like to go through multiple career changes. She’s worked on Wall Street as an investment banker, reported live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and scored a job at a growing career startup, The Muse, before launching her professional development business. Her sweet spot is helping ambitious female professionals articulate their personal branded career stories to land their dream jobs via her signature program Recruit the Employer. Jena has worked with over 800+ clients from around the world and has been featured on Business Insider, Monster, Glassdoor, Bustle, The Muse and Grit & Virtue. She’s created courses for LinkedIn, LinkedIn Learning, and her resume work is highlighted in the WSJ Bestseller, The New Rules of Work. Jena also speaks on various platforms about the intersection of work, branding and faith.   Highlights: [02:58] Jena’s story [04:22] Making the decision to change careers [06:02] How to identify your strengths [07:30] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [08:47] What holds women back in corporate setting [11:16] Looking for your dream job [13:35] Gaining access to influential people [16:01] Job seeker key habits to develop [18:38] How to stand out as a job seeker [23:41] How to execute in your first 90 days at a new job [25:45] Leveraging your network and asking for help [27:21] Advice on staying ahead of the curve [28:52] Leveraging LinkedIn to build your brand [30:24] Choosing your thought leadership topics [35:46] Accelerating your success   Quotes: “Work on your mindset on a daily basis to show up as your most authentic self.” – Jena Viviano “When you get friendly with rejection, your opportunities become limitless.” – Jena Viviano “Network early, network often, and don’t only network when you need something.” – Jena Viviano “The key to building resilience to rejection is to practice failing.” – Jena Viviano “Think of your career more as a marketer than a historian documenting your past.” – Jena Viviano “If you don’t believe you deserve to be in the room, you won’t be in the room.” – Jena Viviano   About Jena Viviano: Jena is a ​career coach​ and entrepreneur who knows what it’s like to go through multiple career changes.  She’s worked on Wall Street as an investment banker, reported live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and scored a job at a growing career startup, ​The Muse​, before launching her professional development business full-time. Her sweet spot is helping ambitious female professionals articulate their personal branded career stories to land their dream jobs via her signature program ​Recruit the Employer​. Jena has worked with 800+ clients from around the world, been featured on and written for Business Insider, Monster, Glassdoor, Bustle, The Muse and Grit & Virtue. S​he’s created courses for LinkedIn, LinkedIn Learning, and various professional organizations like YNG+ and NAPW. Her resume work is highlighted in the WSJ Bestseller, ​The New Rules of Work,​ and she’s spoken at various panels, podcasts, and universities about the intersection of work, branding and faith. Jena lives in the Nashville area with her husband Brent (ask how LinkedIn was a part of her engagement story!) and spends her days exploring new coffee shops, mulling over theological principles, launching her podcast called ​Your Career Story​ or sampling the best wine bars in town. In case you were wondering - she’s an Enneagram 3. Links: Website: https://jenaviviano.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenaviviano/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jena_viviano/  

Did you know that 40% of your activities are driven by habits – good or bad? That means you are the product of what you do habitually. That’s why it can be a struggle to change even when you hope to exert willpower. Habits are a powerful force that makes change challenging. In this episode, we discuss the daily habits of successful people. Highly successful people don't rise to the top by behaving like everyone else. We’ll share how you can develop new habits that make success effortless.   Highlights: [01:21] Common habits of high achievers [02:17] 5 most common habits of high achievers [05:48] Summary of 5 common habits [07:50] Nikki’s morning routine [10:33] How to develop new habits [12:45] How to replace bad habits with good habits   Quotes: “High achievers have morning routines that ground them, fuel them and empower them.” – Nikki Barua “High achievers have a habit of focusing on the most important thing and eliminating distractions.” – Nikki Barua “Be relentless in focusing on self-development.” – Nikki Barua “It’s not just about forming good habits, it’s replacing bad habits with good habits.” – Nikki Barua “If you want a certain outcome, you must invest time and allocate time towards it.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Can you imagine, at the age of 26, taking a $100 birthday gift challenge and turning it into $2 million in order to turn your idea for social change into reality, all in just two weeks? Sounds unbelievable doesn’t it? Where would you even begin? In this episode, you’ll meet Carrie Rich, the co-founder and CEO of The Global Good Fund, an organization that accelerates the leadership development of high potential young social entrepreneurs tackling the world’s greatest issues. Now, just 8 years after taking on her birthday challenge, Carrie has impacted the lives of more than 8.5 million people around the world. Carrie is also the managing director of the Global Impact Fund, a venture capital fund created in 2016 that invests in social impact companies led by people of color and women. In addition to leading The Global Good Fund, Carrie has served on the faculty at George Washington University, Georgetown University and at the Amani Institute in Kenya, Brazil and India. Among her many awards, she was named a 2016 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Washington Business Journal 40 under 40, Entrepreneur.com Top 30 Start-ups to Watch and is the recipient of the POLITICO Women Who Rule Award, among many more.   Highlights: [03:19] Carrie’s story [09:07] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [10:21] Decision-making techniques [13:17] It only takes one person believing in you to make a difference [16:43] Tips on effective execution [18:36] Carrie’s daily success habit [22:06] Gaining clarity to tell your story with passion [24:19] Challenges that hold underrepresented groups back [26:05] Getting the most out of a mentoring relationship [28:07] Mentors don’t have to look like you [31:13] The impact of COVID on mentoring relationships [33:53] Advice on accelerating success   Quotes: “If you don't ask, the answer will definitely be a no.” – Carrie Rich “Financial planning will help you build the confidence to take risks.” – Carrie Rich “It only takes one person to believe in you and take a chance on you.” – Carrie Rich “One of the greatest gifts people can make is an introduction and sharing their network.” – Carrie Rich “The best way to accelerate your success is by investing in yourself.” – Carrie Rich   About Carrie Rich: Carrie Rich is the co-founder and CEO of The Global Good Fund, an organization that accelerates the leadership development of high potential young social entrepreneurs tackling the world’s greatest issues. Ms. Rich co-founded The Global Good Fund in 2012 at the age of 26 after raising $2 million in seed capital in two weeks. Ms. Rich is the managing director of the Global Impact Fund, a venture capital fund created in 2016 that invests in social impact companies led by people of color and women. Ms. Rich co-authored Sustainability for Healthcare Management: A Leadership Imperative, featured in Handelsblatt's Top 5 Business Book in 2013. Ms. Rich is the recipient of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, POLITICO Women Who Rule Award, Washington Business Journal 40 under 40, Entrepreneur.com Top 30 Start-ups to Watch, Stevie Award for Women in Business, Asian Social Innovation CEO of the Year, and Social Enterprise Alliance 50 under 40. Ms. Rich has served on the boards of Rezon8Capital, Women in Business, Ibasho, One Planet International School and the Atlas Health Foundation. Ms. Rich served on the faculty at Georgetown University, George Washington University and at the Amani Institute in Kenya, Brazil and India. Ms. Rich advises start-ups in the health, technology and retail industries, assisting with raising capital, business strategy, and market outreach to achieve audience engagement amongst millennials, women and those who care about sustainability and social impact.   Links: RSVP for Fund The Good 2020 on December 9th at 5:30 pm EST – A virtual event featuring Arlan Hamilton: https://globalgoodfund.org/fundthegood/virtual-event/?mc_cid=61e178eae5&mc_eid=cbdff9db7e#RSVP The Global Good Fund – to donate or for sponsorship: https://one.bidpal.net/fundthegood/ticketing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-rich-10b8445/  

Have you ever chosen a path that you want to follow and set out with a determined commitment only to realize somewhere along the way that your just not enjoying it? What do you do? Do you keep going or do you make the tough decision to change directions even if there are sunk costs? In this episode, Judith Williams, Head of People Sustainability and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at SAP, shares her perspective and important life lesson she learned on the economic principle of “sunk costs” and how it can also be an important career strategy. Judith shares her story of deciding to make a career pivot, leaving her well-established career as an academic professor to becoming a change agent in the world of diversity, equity and inclusion. Judith has been at the forefront of the culture change movement in technology and entertainment –with a deep focus on analytics and strategies to identify and disrupt bias in social systems and corporate culture. Prior to joining SAP, she ran an organization which consults with start-ups, venture capitalists, and accelerators on embedding diversity and inclusion into the foundations of their organizational cultures. In addition, Judith also served as the Global Head of Diversity for Dropbox and was also a Diversity Programs Manager at Google where she directed the unconscious bias work stream, and built strategies for recruiting, retention, and advancement of the company’s technical employees.   Highlights: [02:57] Judith’s story [05:52] Understanding sunk costs [07:43] Making the decision to pivot [12:02] Gaining clarity on your strengths and competencies [17:35] Overcoming your fears and limiting beliefs [19:48] Judith’s success habits [23:40] Building a strong network [27:46] The impact of COVID on underrepresented groups [29:57] Opportunities for women of color [32:09] Staying ahead of the curve [34:19] Accelerating your success   Quotes: “Do the tasks you enjoy the least earlier in the day, and afterward, the tasks you do enjoy doing become a reward.” - Judith Williams “Practice reframing something, not in terms of whether or not you can do it, but are you willing to do the work it takes.” – Judith Williams “When you first join an organization, it is more important to listen than to talk to understand the lay of the land.” - Judith Williams “Look for opportunities to show your value, but also look for opportunities to highlight the value of others.” – Judith Williams “Make sure that your work is visible. And as you grow in seniority, your job shifts to include making the work of your team visible.” – Judith Williams “Talk about your work like you're your own best friend.” – Judith Williams   About Judith Williams: Head of People Sustainability and SVP, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, SAP SE Judith has been at the forefront of the culture change movement in technology and entertainment – with a deep focus on analytics and strategies to identify and disrupt bias in social systems and corporate culture. She joined SAP in September 2018 as Head of People Sustainability and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer leading both diversity and inclusion and business health programs at SAP. Previously, she ran an organization which consults with start-ups, venture capitalists, and accelerators on embedding diversity and inclusion into the foundations of their organizational cultures. Judith has also been instrumental in the development of the ReFrame Project, a partnership between the Sundance Institute and Women and Film. The project addresses systemic barriers in the Hollywood ecosystem, and encourages gender parity at every level in film, TV and media. Prior to that as Global Head of Diversity for Dropbox, Judith was responsible for all diversity and inclusion programs, as well as corporate social responsibility. Her efforts increased the pipeline of women and underrepresented minorities at Dropbox, creating a more inclusive corporate culture and forming deeper ties into the communities where the company operates. In addition, Judith was the Diversity Programs Manager at Google where she directed the unconscious bias work stream, and built strategies for recruiting, retention, and advancement of the company’s technical employees. She was instrumental in implementing Google’s widely praised unconscious bias training program which was the first to call out hidden prejudices as a major contributor to the systemic lack of diversity in the tech industry. Judith lives in San Francisco, CA.   Links: LinkedIn: judith-michelle-williams-55751a

Happy Halloween everyone! We hope you are celebrating this holiday dressed up as your favorite character and spreading the festive spirit. Much like Halloween gives you the opportunity to step into a different character and assume its persona and behavior, you can also do the same in everyday life by assuming the right identity for any situation. In this episode, we discuss the power of identity and how it can be an effective tool to overcome obstacles, achieve your goals, and not let your fears and limiting beliefs get in the way of your success.   Highlights: [01:22] Why assume a different identity [03:59] Monica’s power identity [04:33] Our physical state impacts our mental state [06:26] How to take on a power identity   Quotes: “Assuming an identity isn't about not being yourself, it's about stepping into a character that brings out the best parts of yourself.” – Nikki Barua “Observe how you're showing up in certain situations and whether that identity is disempowering or empowering.” – Nikki Barua About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Given the challenges we are all facing living in this current environment of dealing with COVID, working from home or working on the frontlines, managing home schooling, racial and social tensions, and all of the political rhetoric, it’s no wonder that we all are feeling some level of stress, anxiety and overwhelm! The question is: what are you doing about it all? Are you practicing self-care? In this episode, I chat with Jenny Evans, speaker, author, and on-air expert on physiology and chemistry, as it relates to resiliency, confidence and performance. Jenny shares her perspective on how you can learn to recover from stress more quickly and raise your threshold for it by utilizing realistic and manageable tactics. Jenny Evans is the founder and CEO of PowerHouse Performance and author of the award-winning book The Resiliency rEvolution: Your Stress Solution for Life –60 Seconds at a Time. Working with thousands of C-suite executives, leaders and employees worldwide, Jenny helps audiences tap into their personal power and confidence, as well as learn how to increase their capacity for stress and to recover from it more quickly and effectively. Text “STRESSPROOF” to 44222 to receive the 365 Days of Journaling Questions in addition to other free resources.   Highlights: [02:49] Jenny’s journey [05:59] Gaining clarity [09:37] The effects of cortisol on our behavior [14:05] The importance of good sleep [17:38] Clear your mind before making decisions [19:53] Building trust in yourself [25:19] Change isn’t always easy [29:34] Tips for reducing stress [31:27] Overcoming the stories we tell ourselves [35:04] Rewriting your story [40:32] The importance of your community [44:03] Advice on accelerating success   Quotes: “A clear sense of purpose is essential for resiliency.” – Jenny Evans “Figure out what is your ONE best next step and take action today.” – Jenny Evans “Let go of stories that aren’t working for you and author new stories that are a reflection of the truth .” – Jenny Evans “The top three forms of recovery available to the human body are sleep, exercise, and nutrition.” – Jenny Evans   About Jenny Evans: Jenny Evans is obsessed with human performance and has created a career and life designed around maximizing her own potential, and helping others do the same. With a blend of confidence, creativity, stubbornness and some naïveté (which is sometimes key), she has gone headlong into following her passion and purpose...and figured out how to make a living while doing it. Jenny is a keynote speaker, author and on-air expert on resiliency, stress, confidence and human performance. She is founder and CEO of PowerHouse Performance and author of the award-winning book The Resiliency rEvolution: Your Stress Solution for Life – 60 Seconds at a Time. Working with thousands of C-suite executives, leaders and employees worldwide, Jenny helps audiences tap into their personal power and confidence, as well as learn how to increase their capacity for stress and to recover from it more quickly and effectively. Clients improve their performance and productivity, all while enhancing their health. Jenny has spoken on the TEDx stage, is the resiliency subject matter expert for Optum and The Big Know’s digital courses, writes as a blogger for The Huffington Post and was an NBC Health & Fitness expert for over four years. She has been quoted on National Public Radio, in Health Magazine and Women’s Health, while being showcased on FastCompany.com, Inc.com, Entrepreneur.com, Shape.com and Elle.com. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Psychology from the University of Minnesota, has been an American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor for over 20 years, and is a certified Exercise Nutritionist. In her spare time she is an aerial arts performer...because you never know when you’re going to need a backup plan. Jenny’s corporate client list includes Yale School of Management, Ameriprise Financial, U.S. Bank, AT&T, Estée Lauder Companies, Comcast, Nationwide, Procter & Gamble, Target, and many other Fortune 500 companies.   Links: Website: https://jennyevans.com/ Book: https://jennyevans.com/products/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/powerhouseperform LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyevans/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenny_c_evans/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JennyEvansPH/  

Do you have a dream that you are not pursuing because of fear and self-doubt? Have you let other people’s opinions drown out your own? What if...you could move forward with certainty towards your dream and ignore the naysayers? That’s exactly what we’ll discuss in this conversation with Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint, and author of the bestselling book Undaunted. Kara will inspire you to move past your fears and defy the doubters. As Kara says, it doesn’t matter whether you feel confident; it matters what you actually do. Kara has received numerous accolades as the Founder and CEO of Hint, best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. She was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Northern California, one of InStyle’s 2019 Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, WWD Beauty Inc.’s Feel Good Force and Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs. The Huffington Post listed her as one of six disruptors in business, alongside Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Previously, Kara was VP of Shopping and Ecommerce at America Online where she helped lead the growth of its shopping and ecommerce business to over a $1 billion in revenue.   Highlights: [03:32] Kara’s story [09:20] Overcoming doubts [15:10] Following your North Star [22:08] Where there is a will there is a way [29:42] Advice on overcoming fears [33:53] Lessons learned on managing at scale [37:33] Building your presence and why it matters [40:15] About “Undaunted”   Quotes: “It's not just about having a great product, it's about building a great team.”– Kara Goldin  “Becoming comfortable with letting others know that you do not know something helps build confidence.” - Kara Goldin  “Sharing with people that you don't understand something might actually get you further.” – Kara Goldin  “You gain more confidence when you don’t try to be the smartest person in the room.” - Kara Goldin  “If you put belief in self-limiting thoughts, you will not be able to do make progress.” - Kara Goldin  “Creative ideas can come from anywhere, everyone has a voice and has valuable input.” – Kara Goldin “Sharing authentically who you are, the things you care about, and the things that you're curious about is leading.” – Kara Goldin “You are not alone in terms of having fears and having doubts. Take action and be okay with knowing that a lot of people fail.” – Kara Goldin   About Kara Goldin: Kara Goldin is the Founder and CEO of Hint, Inc., best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. She has received numerous accolades, including being named EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Northern California, one of InStyle’s 2019 Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, WWD Beauty Inc.’s Feel Good Force and Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs. The Huffington Post listed her as one of six disruptors in business, alongside Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Previously, Kara was VP of Shopping and Ecommerce at America Online where she helped lead the growth of its shopping and ecommerce business to over a $1 billion in revenue. She is an active speaker and writer and, in 2017, she launched Unstoppable with Kara Goldin, a podcast where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs and disruptors across various industries. Kara’s first book, Undaunted, published by Harper Leadership, will be released in October 2020. Kara lives in the Bay Area with her family. Please follow Kara on her website at www.karagoldin.com and on all social channels @KaraGoldin For more information, images, interviews, please contact [email protected] Links: Website: https://karagoldin.com/undaunted LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karagoldin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karagoldin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraGoldin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/karagoldin/  

How do you fill your time? Do you invest it or spend it? Are you always stretched for time or do you feel flow every day? In today’s episode, we’ll share a different perspective about time and why it’s not about time at all.   Highlights: [01:01] Why we obsess about time [01:53] Manage your energy instead of your time [03:20] We all have 24 hours in a day [04:49] Focus on what you want to create [05:53] 10 tips to break through the tyranny of time [10:52] Multi-tasking does not equal productivity   Quotes: “Being busy and filling every minute of your day does not equate to creating impact.” – Nikki Barua  “Time doesn't matter. It matters only when we're trying to do something that isn't joyful.” – Nikki Barua “One of the biggest myths is that multitasking increases productivity. Its saps your energy and your focus and actually slows you down.” – Nikki Barua “Once you choose your top priorities for the day, be sure you know the reasons why those matter.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Do you have a goal or lifelong dream that you’ve never shared with anyone because you are afraid of being judged? Do you worry about not knowing enough or not having the right skills or perhaps questioning whether it’s the right time? In this episode, we’re speaking with Petra Griffith, Tech Executive and Investor, who says if you want to pursue your dream, you have to start by vocalizing it. Petra Griffith launched Wedbush Ventures to foster the next generation of technology companies solving big market problems. Having built many firsts -the first online printing software, first fitness wearable, first native ads -and even having ushered a bank into the age of technology, Petra truly understands the mindset necessary to achieve product market fit. Her leadership roles at organizations such as Netflix, Yahoo!, and 24 Hour Fitness makes Petra a coveted ally to entrepreneurs ready to scale innovation.   Highlights: [02:29] Petra’s journey [09:29] Switching lanes and following your dreams [13:18] Position yourself for opportunity [15:00] What Petra is doing today – Wedbush Ventures [20:51] Advice on seeking venture capital [24:36] Common traits of successful leaders [26:39] Daily success habit [27:52] What Petra wishes she had known earlier in her career   Quotes: “If you’re honest with yourself about what you want to do and you think about what you're good at, what kind of environment you want to be in, that’s when you’ll find the right match and it's magic.” – Petra Griffith “It's critical to take the time to figure out what your superpower is and what is the right environment for you to be successful.” – Petra Griffith “The most effective leaders are those who are laser focused on what matters and focus on those things so they can make an impact.” – Petra Griffith “Be able to verbalize your goals because people can't help you unless you tell them where you want to go.” - Petra Griffith   About Petra Griffith: Petra Griffith launched Wedbush Ventures to foster the next generation of technology companies solving big market problems. Having built many firsts - the first online printing software, first fitness wearable, first native ads - and ushered a bank into the age of technology, Petra understands the strategic and creative mindset necessary to narrow in on a product’s core features for successful market fit. Her past leadership to product, strategy, marketing, and operations teams at established and startup organizations like Netflix, Yahoo!, and 24 Hour Fitness makes Petra a coveted product strategy ally to entrepreneurs ready to scale innovation.   Links: Website: https://www.wedbushventures.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petragriffith/  

Most people don't bother to update their resume until there's a pressing need for it, and when they do...they have no idea where to begin. Sound familiar? If you're finding yourself in need of “dusting off the ol’ resume”, no need to fear...help is on the way. Meet our guest, Virginia Franco, a multi-certified Executive Resume and LinkedIn Writer, Coach and Storyteller, whose documents have helped clients around the globe tell their stories and land interviews in record time. In this episode, Virginia shares her expertise and insights on the “Do’s and Don’ts” in your next job search. Virginia founded Virginia Franco Resumes after recognizing her years of corporate communications, journalism and healthcare social work offered her a unique understanding of how people read, communicate and share information. She is one of less than 70 writers nationwide to hold the prestigious National Certified Resume Writer certification from the National Résumé Writers' Association, and holds several additional industry certifications. In January 2020 she launched Job Search Secret Weapon with 3 industry peers, offering job search support via DIY guides, kits, scripts and templates, for those who don’t have the means to work with professionals one-on-one.   Highlights: [02:37] Virginia’s journey [04:57] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [06:23] Building your personal brand [11:46] Deciding which role is best for you [13:16] Resume and job search advice [20:51] Honing in on your transferrable skills [27:23] Apply even when you don’t meet 100% of requirements [30:35] The importance of your digital profile [32:39] Maintaining your presence on LinkedIn [37:08] Staying ahead of the curve   Quotes: “Make a list of your proudest accomplishments and within there you will find your greatest strengths.” – Virginia Franco “It's important to understand what you excel at, what other people believe you are good at, and what you like to do and how that aligns with market demand.” – Virginia Franco “Instead of simple a laundry list of responsibilities, your resume should demonstrate how those responsibilities led to results.” – Virginia Franco   About Virginia Franco: Virginia Franco is first and foremost a writer and storyteller. She founded Virginia Franco Resumes after recognizing her years of corporate communications, journalism and healthcare social work offered her a unique understanding of how people read, communicate and share information. You name it she’s written it – from articles for websites, local newspapers and magazines to newsletters, executive talking points and annual reports. Today Virginia writes documents that help clients land interviews. Her customized career documents help people struggling to tell their story in a way that appeals to today’s skim, online and small screen readers. In addition to writing their documents, she offers guidance to those testing the job search waters or making a career change on navigating the world of online job search and social media networking. She shares her insights with job seekers via a variety of publications and podcasts. Virginia is one of less than 70 writers nationwide to hold the prestigious NCRW certification from the National Résumé Writers' Association, and holds two additional certifications as a Resume Writer and an Employment Interview Coach from the PARW-CC. In January 2020 she launched Job Search Secret Weapon with 3 industry peers, offering job search support via DIY guides, kits, scripts and templates, for those who don’t have the means to work with professionals one-on-one. She makes sure to squeeze in time for a bit of of yoga and walking (while listening to podcasts!). Virginia lives with her husband, their 4 children and 2 dogs in Charlotte, NC Links: Website: https://virginiafrancoresumes.com/ and https://www.jobsearchsecretweapon.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginiafrancoresumewriter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vafrancoresumes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vafrancoresumes/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaFrancoResume/  

This is our 100th episode and we want to thank you for your support. Thank you to everyone who is part of our community – our listeners from around the world, our inspiring guests who contribute their time and wisdom, our production partner MZ Studios who work their magic to ensure the highest listening quality, and our dearest teammate, Cheryl Couch, who puts her heart and soul into managing this show to ensure an outstanding experience every time. As for us, we are truly humbled by this achievement. When we began our journey, we had no idea how popular this show would become, or how much impact our message would create. In today’s episode, we want to share our story, and why we embarked on this mission to accelerate the advancement of women in leadership.   Highlights: [01:38] Why the mission matters [02:32] Industry disruption and how it impacts you [05:48] Despite progress, women are still being left behind [08:10] 2 things that need to happen to change status quo [10:23] Challenges women face in the workplace [16:53] How do you develop future-ready leaders [19:41] Challenges for senior leaders [22:38] Democratizing access to coaching and high performance training   Quotes: “In less than three years from now, 40% of the work will be different from what it is today.” – Nikki Barua “If you want to stay ahead, you have to shift your mindset, not just your skill set. You have to go from all knowing to always learning.” – Nikki Barua “Imagine a world where every woman could advance in a career because she has access to the right resources - the right training, the right coaching, and the right relationships and communities.” – Nikki Barua “In the age of influence, visibility matters. You can change hearts and minds if you're invisible.” – Nikki Barua “If you have something to give, something to teach, then it's time to step up and put a spotlight on yourself.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Visibility matters. How can we expect to change the world if we’re invisible? That’s what we will discuss in this episode featuring Suezette Yasmin Robotham, who is a passionate advocate for visibility and authenticity as a catalyst for change. Suezette is a DEI practitioner, speaker, connector, coach, and a leading “Black Woman in Tech”. She currently leads Diversity Programs on the Global Product & Software Engineering Recruiting team at Facebook. Suezette has more than a decade of leadership experience, with expertise in talent acquisition, diversity & inclusion initiatives, leadership development, strategic planning and relationship building across various industry sectors. Suezette also founded a platform created to amplify the voices of Black Women in Tech and beyond, called #BlackTechBeauty in 2020.   Highlights: [03:26] Suezette’s journey [15:25] Building relationships [20:55] Advice on landing a role in Big Tech [22:18] Articulating the transferability of your skills [26:19] Overcoming limiting beliefs [30:32] Finding your community [33:42] Suezette’s daily success habits [36:44] Advice on accelerating success in the digital age [40:09] Black Tech Beauty   Quotes: “Be grateful for your process and trust in that process.” – Suezette Yasmin Robotham “Assess the company landscape and gain an understanding of who are the people that you have an opportunity to learn from.” - Suezette Yasmin Robotham “Owning who you are authentically can help you overcome imposter syndrome and increase your confidence.” - Suezette Yasmin Robotham “Ensure that your LinkedIn profile evokes someone to want to know more.” – Suezette Yasmin Robotham “The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself.” – Suezette Yasmin Robotham   About Suezette Yasmin Robotham: Suezette Yasmin Robotham is a DEI practitioner, speaker, connector, coach, and a leading “Black Woman in Tech.” She has more than a decade of leadership experience, with expertise in talent acquisition, diversity & inclusion initiatives, leadership development, strategic planning and relationship building across various industry sectors. Over her career, she has contributed her work to large urban school districts, such as Atlanta Public Schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools, as well as education reform organizations that include Teach For America, The New Teacher Project and The Achievement Network. She previously served as the lead Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Program Manager on the Google Search & Assistant team; and currently leads Diversity Programs on the Global Product & Software Engineering Recruiting team at Facebook. Suezette also founded a platform created to amplify the voices of Black Women in Tech and beyond, called #BlackTechBeauty in 2020. Suezette has been tapped as a speaker by a number of organizations across the U.S. and Canada for her thought leadership in authenticity in the workplace and diversity and inclusion, and she has been a featured TEDx Speaker (TEDxBeaconStreet 2015). Suezette is passionate about the power that can be realized in spaces where vulnerability, empathy and authenticity are encouraged, and she is devoted to using her talents to connect others – whether individuals or organizations – to the people, opportunities and resources that will help them realize, access and achieve their highest potential. Suezette is also a TNJ 40 Under Forty 2019 Honoree. An alumna of the University of Florida and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, Suezette currently lives, works, and plays in Brooklyn. Her words to live by: “You were brave before you were born.”-Her Mommy   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suezette/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suezette/ & https://www.instagram.com/blacktechbeauty/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/11Zette17  

How many of you experience sweaty palms, shaky knees, and can feel your heart about to pound its way out of your chest the moment you have to speak or perform publicly? Glossophobia, also known as the fear of public speaking, stage fright or performance anxiety, affects an estimated 73% of the population according to a recent article in Psychology Today. Now, in this day and age, with all of the new technology and the increase in video conference meetings, you have to be prepared to speak to an audience AND be camera-ready at any given moment. Which only increases the anxiety for many people. The good news, however, is that you can learn to control this fear.  In this episode, our guest, Michele Moreno, a 14+ year Hollywood actress and a Stanford graduate, shares her perspective on how any leader can become confident on camera to build trust and influence virtually anywhere —no matter how overwhelmed or terrified they start out. Michele teaches business leaders secrets from the acting world, where she appeared on hit TV shows such as ABC’s Boston Legal, FX’s The Shield and NBC’s Parenthood. She’s also a contributing author to 2 books by Guy Kawasaki and has appeared on dozens of online shows as a video confidence expert. Michele believes that the most valuable currency online today is people’s attention. Learning to capture it on camera is the superpower of the 21st century. So she wants you to lead with authority, confidence and on-camera style.   Highlights: [03:31] Michele’s story [05:02] Overcoming failure and taking action [07:11] Finding the right mentor [09:22] Getting comfortable with 60% confidence [11:05] Speaking up in a meeting [13:55] Common mistakes made on video [17:27] Formulating your value proposition [21:55] Crafting your brand [27:14] Tips on expressing your ideas confidently [30:27] Tricks to filler words [33:35] Accelerating success in the digital age   Quotes: “A winner is a loser who got up one more time.” – Michele Moreno “Grit is what makes winners.” - Michele Moreno “Paint your results in a way so that it is a mini-story in a time and place.” – Michele Moreno “Do a better job of saying no and knowing that you and your time are valuable.” – Michele Moreno   About Michele Moreno: Michele Moreno believes any leader can become confident on camera to build trust and influence virtually anywhere — no matter how overwhelmed or terrified they start out. She teaches business leaders secrets from the acting world, where she appeared on hit TV shows such as ABC’s Boston Legal, FX’s The Shield and NBC’s Parenthood. She’s also a contributing author to 2 books by Guy Kawasaki and has appeared on dozens of online shows as a video confidence expert. The most valuable currency online today is people’s attention. Learning to capture it on camera is the superpower of the 21st century. So she wants you to lead with authority, confidence and on-camera style.   Links: Free 20-minute chat at http://bit.ly/chatwithMichele Website: http://videoconfidence.biz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmichele/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelemmoreno/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachmichelemoreno/  

Do you know what people say about you when you aren’t in the room? What people say about you, think of you, and how they perceive you is what your reputation is built upon. And your reputation is your personal brand. Whether you want a personal brand or not, you have one! And if you aren’t actively building your brand, you are missing out on the opportunity to make your reputation work for you. In this episode, we will share why it’s important to build your personal brand and how to get started.   Highlights: [01:16] Why it’s important to build your personal brand [01:50] Your digital presence [05:37] 1 st step to building your brand – audit yourself [08:37] 2 nd step – do an external audit [09:28] 3 rd step – identify patterns   Quotes: “We leave a trail everywhere we go based on how we show up.” – Nikki Barua “If you're not aware of your personal brand and are not actively building it, you're unknowingly creating a major barrier to your success.” – Nikki Barua “We're living in the age of influence where our reputation precedes us.” – Nikki Barua “Look at what your digital and physical footprint and what it says about you.” – Nikki Barua   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Have you ever felt like you were the only one dealing with challenges that you didn’t know how to overcome? Those moments when you didn’t have an answer and wished you could get the wisdom and guidance of those who have walked that path before you. Meet Loren Feldman, former senior editor at Inc, Forbes and New York Times, who shares his perspective on the power of community and what helps business leaders survive and thrive. Loren Feldman is chief content officer of 21 Hats, an online platform for business owners. He currently hosts the 21 Hats Podcast and publishes the 21 Hats Morning Report, a daily email newsletter for entrepreneurs. Previously, he was a senior editor covering entrepreneurship at Inc, Forbes and the New York Times and hosted a call-in show for business owners, Mind Your Business, on Sirius XM. Loren has also spoken and moderated discussions at numerous conferences and seminars on entrepreneurship.   Highlights: [02:44] Loren’s career highlights [07:33] Starting a business during the pandemic [15:14] Highlighting stories of navigating through uncertainty [20:39] Lessons learned [23:52] Common traits of successful leaders [28:29] Women entrepreneurs and leaders [33:32] The venture capital industry [35:51] The importance of visibility [39:02] Living in this age of uncertainty   Quotes: “The most important part of a blog is the conversations that the content elicits.” – Loren Feldman “To be an entrepreneur, you have to be incredibly stubborn and headstrong, you have to be willing to keep going, when people are telling you that it's not going to work.” - Loren Feldman “The real challenge of being a successful entrepreneur is calibrating when to keep going no matter what and knowing when you need to listen to others.” – Loren Feldman “Find your tribe, find other people going through similar challenges. It cannot be a single person, you need a diversity of opinion.” – Loren Feldman   About Loren Feldman: Loren Feldman is chief content officer of 21 Hats, an online platform for business owners that will debut in 2020. He currently hosts the 21 Hats Podcast and edits the 21 Hats Morning Report, a daily email newsletter for entrepreneurs. Previously, he was a senior editor covering entrepreneurship at Inc, Forbes and the New York Times and hosted a call-in show for business owners, Mind Your Business, on Sirius XM. And he has spoken and moderated discussions at numerous conferences and seminars on entrepreneurship.   Links: Website: www.21hats.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feldmanloren/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lfeldman  

Many barriers stand in the way of a Latina interested in a career in STEM...from societal and familial norms to high school counselors telling Latinas, and other women for that matter, that “maybe you’d be better suited majoring in something else”. This has been the case for decades. Even if one pushes past discrimination, there is still the challenge of a lack of resources, support and the isolation of being “the only”. The numbers say it all: Only 2 percent of Latinas held science and engineering positions, as reported by the National Science Foundation. And that number hasn’t changed in the last 5 yrs. But Latinas in academia, the workforce, and beyond are working to change the depressing data. In this episode, you will meet Isaura Gaeta, Vice President of Security Research and General Manager of Intel Product Assurance & Security at Intel Corporation, who is leading by example in her respective field and sharing her story in order to encourage the next generation of Latinas in STEM.   Highlights: [03:51] Isaura’s journey [07:53] Overcoming limiting beliefs [09:51] Building relationships [15:28] First experience in corporate [18:50] Gaining access to influential leaders [22:47] Raising your hand for opportunities [24:33] Building your personal brand [27:09] Tips for achieving your goals [29:39] Staying ahead of the curve [32:24] Opportunities for the Latino community [36:41] Accelerating success in the digital age   Quotes: “Engineering is about helping people. It's about making our lives better.” – Isaura S. Gaeta “Always give more than you get back.” - Isaura S. Gaeta “Remind yourself that you have information that is valuable to share and if you don’t share it, then you may not make the progress that is needed.” – Isaura S. Gaeta “Utilize CPU – Commit to being your best self every day. Persist despite setbacks. Unite with your community for support.” – Isaura S. Gaeta “Quell that little voice that is telling you that you're not good enough or you're not supposed to be here. Stand up and say - Yes, I am supposed to be here.” - Isaura S. Gaeta “Be confident about sharing and asking for what you want.” - Isaura S. Gaeta   About Isaura S. Gaeta: Isaura leads an engineering team focused on hardware security research including penetration testing, physical attack mechanisms, and outreach to academia. Previously she was GM of systems engineering in the Platform Engineering Group and was responsible for optimizing engineering execution capacity, quality management systems, and operational excellence for a global engineering organization of 18k people. A 30-year veteran of Intel, Gaeta spent the first two decades of her Intel career developing various semiconductor processing technologies. Her work during that period led to two patents and five Intel Achievement Awards, the company’s highest recognition. Gaeta holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. She founded Intel’s Network of Executive Women for the Latin America region and was the chair of Intel’s Hispanic Leadership Council. Outside of Intel, she serves on the board of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley where she chairs the Nominating and Governance committee. The Hispanic IT Executive Council has recognized her six times on the top 100 Hispanic professionals in the IT industry.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaura-s-gaeta-1a50262/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/IsauraGaeta  

It’s that dreaded time of the year ... performance review cycles are in process in most organizations. According to research from SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management), 90% of performance reviews are painful and ineffective. Managers spend 210 hours on performance management and are inundated with reviews to complete. Meanwhile employees experience anxiety about an unpredictable outcome with 22% of employees preferring to call in sick rather than face a performance review. In this episode, we will share performance review tips so you can set yourself up for success and turn this into an opportunity and make the most of it to advance in your career.   Highlights: [00:40] Dreading the performance review [02:27] Actively managing your career [05:10] Tips for last minute prep for review [07:28] Seeking out the truth tellers for feedback [10:24] Be curious when receiving feedback [11:18] Always follow-up after a review [12:44] Summary of 5 performance review tips   Quotes: “If you're not actively managing your career, chances are that you haven't done all of the groundwork needed for you to make the most out of the feedback cycle and to leverage the review for advancement.” – Nikki Barua “Take every opportunity to illustrate your accomplishments and share measurable results that you've created.” – Nikki Barua “Your self-assessment is not the time to be humble. It is the time to advocate for yourself and highlight your accomplishments.” – Monica Marquez “Utilize the STAR method in your performance reviews – Situation, Tasks, Action, Results.” – Monica Marquez “Be strategic in who you ask for feedback and what you ask them to support you in.” - Monica Marquez “Seek feedback to listen and learn, not to refute and reject.” - Nikki Barua “Feedback is essential for growth, it is a gift.” – Monica Marquez   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

How would you feel if you knew your manager had your back? What if they lifted you up and shined a light on your accomplishments? What if they were willing to do whatever it takes to give everyone a level playing field? Servant leadership is all about leading by lifting others. Our guest today is Tami Rosen and she is that kind of leader. She believes that leaders don’t go far if they leave others behind. Throughout her career, Tami has fought for the underdog and paved the way for others to get ahead, inspiring them to do more, learn more and become more. In this episode, Tami shares her perspective on leadership, contribution and impact. Tami is currently the Chief People Officer at Atlassian where she is responsible for the attraction, engagement, development, and experience of Atlassian’s most important asset –its people. Prior to Atlassian, Tami has held leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, Apple, and has served as the first Chief People Officer for both Quora and Luminar Technologies. Tami brings an agile philosophy to all aspects of people operations.   Highlights: [03:03] Tami’s journey [07:17] Risk-reward analysis [09:30] Seeking out feedback [13:23] Overcoming limiting beliefs [16:44] Tami’s superpower [19:43] Diversity and inclusion [24:20] Making the decision to change industries [30:01] Asking for help [33:33] Accelerating success in the digital age [35:19] Becoming a change agent for others [37:41] Tami’s final words of advice   Quotes: “It is just as important for others to share feedback when they see someone who is high performing as it is to be asking for the feedback.”– Tami Rosen “Building your network and relationships isn’t about the work you are doing in the moment, it’s about how you carry that forward and keep that relationship going.” – Tami Rosen “Asking for help allows others to know where they can use their superpowers to help you.” – Tami Rosen “Failure is an opportunity to learn and get back up and do something better and different.” – Tami Rosen “Drive the change you want to see. See what the future should be and make sure that you can help make that change happen.” – Tami Rosen “When you see somebody struggling, give them the support, because it's always more powerful in twos than it is by yourself.” – Tami Rosen   About Tami Rosen: Tami Rosen is a senior HR executive passionate about enabling people to perform at their best. Through leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, Apple as well as start ups like Quora and Luminar Technologies, she brought an agile philosophy to all aspects of people operations for up to 15,000 global employees, becoming known for strengths in four key areas: HR Transformation, Employer Branding, Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership Development and Culture Education. Throughout her career, she earned distinction as a relationship builder, thought leader, connector of people, and trusted advisor to executive teams.  Tami launched her corporate career at Goldman Sachs, where she spent 16+ years advancing from technical recruiter and generalist to heading human resources for three of the firm’s largest divisions: Technology, The Federation (back-office operations), and Investment Management. In global and regional roles, she provided the leadership to transform HR into a strategic business asset and instill excellence into talent management programs and processes. She advocated for and engaged employees through initiatives that embraced the inclusion and growth of female, LGBT, and diverse populations, including Wall Street’s first Ally program. She developed leaders and rising-stars, and set technical and business employees on career roadmaps designed to bring out their full potential.   Recruited to Apple Inc. as Human Resources Senior Director for two technical divisions, Tami used people analytics to shape talent recruitment, development and management programs designed to attract and retain the best performers in a competitive job marketplace. Her leadership facilitated the smooth integration of several large acquisitions, including Beats by Dre. Her success resulted in a rare invitation to join Apple University as a faculty member. Tami created and conducted development programs for executives and managers that focused on building innovative cultures and engaging employees. She also led research on employee attrition factors at suppliers in Asia.  Tami also served as the first Chief People Officer, Luminar Technologies, advising the executive team on strategic planning and organizational structure to ensure business viability. She established the HR infrastructure including compensation strategy and developed an empowering corporate culture.  Prior to Luminar, she was the first Vice President of People and Internal Communications at Quora where she made talent and culture a keystone of business strategy and provided executive leadership coaching.  She is currently the Chief People officer at Atlassian where she is responsible for the attraction, engagement, development, and experience of Atlassian’s most important asset – its people. She has been instrumental in developing the future of work called TEAM Anywhere and has shepherded the company through the recent pandemic. Tami currently resides in Los Altos with her husband (Marc), two children (Emma and Justin), two cats (Ava and Max) and her husky (Alani). She is passionate about philanthropy, coaching/mentoring, democracy/equality and working with STEM programs. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University in Law and Society.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tami-rosen-388714b/ Read Tami’s blog on Employee driven crisis response plan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tami.rosen Twitter: @tamibrosen

What would you do if you earned a seat at the table, but you struggled to belong or simply feel welcomed in the conversation? Recent research from the Center for Talent Innovation found that exclusion is a growing issue. And, that more than 40% of those surveyed feel isolated in the workplace. Now, imagine being the “only one” on a team or in a meeting and not feeling as though you belong, or worse, “not being heard”. In this episode, Melonie Parker, Chief Diversity Officer at Google, shares her career journey over the years as she learned to navigate the male-dominated corporate ladder, reclaim and step into her power, and become a passionate thought leader and an advocate for change.  Melonie is an HR executive committed to innovative, relevant, and contemporary HR leadership. She is responsible for advancing Google's employee engagement strategy across Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Additionally, Melonie serves as a Minority in Energy Initiative Champion for the Department of Energy. Highlights: [02:58] Melonie’s journey [04:05] Dealing with failure [05:34] Finding clarity on your career path [08:20] Gaining access to mentors and sponsors [15:36] Owning your seat at the table [18:30] Finding your voice [20:32] Don’t let others silence you [25:03] Feeling under the microscope as women of color [28:59] Building powerful relationships virtually [30:50] Opportunities for women of color [33:21] Diversity, Equity & Inclusion [39:06] Common traits of leaders [44:24] Leveling up and staying ahead of the curve [45:52] Parting words to listeners   Quotes: “To thy own self be true, you are enough, lean into who you are, recognize what that is and how valuable you are to the rest of the world.”– Melonie Parker “Leadership done well is servant leadership.” – Melonie Parker “Hiring is a two-way dialogue – what are you giving to a company and what are you getting back in return.” – Melonie Parker “Don’t only seek mentors that look like you. Mentoring is not about what fits you but what you need to add, stretch and grow.” – Melonie Parker “We might walk into a room and be the only one, but we always come with others, our community that always has our back.” – Melonie Parker “Have courage of voice. It empowers you when you take ownership of your ideas.” – Melonie Parker “What's the story that you’re telling yourself when you are sitting at the table, because if you go to the table, and know that your designed to be there, that conversation is enriched because you're in it.” – Melonie Parker “If we had representation at parity, across healthcare, education, all of these structures, we would see a huge difference.”- Melonie Parker   About Melonie Parker: Melonie Parker is an HR executive committed to innovative, relevant, and contemporary HR leadership. She is an advocate for change and a passionate thought leader. ​Parker is responsible f​ or advancing Google's employee engagement strategy across Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.​ Additionally, Parker serves as a Minority in Energy Initiative Champion for the Department of Energy. Prior to this role she served as the Vice President of Human Resources & Communications at Sandia National Laboratories. Parker was responsible for the leadership and Labs-wide management of human resources, health, benefits and employee services. She was also responsible for Sandia’s communication efforts, which include planning, strategy, executive communications, media relations, external branding, community affairs and internal communications. Prior to joining Sandia as the VP of HR and Communications, Parker extends expertise from a career spanning over 17 years in a variety of Lockheed Martin business areas, locations, and progressive leadership roles. During her time at Lockheed Martin, she has held responsibility ​for employee relations, staffing, EEO/Affirmative Action, diversity programs, compensation, benefits, and K-12 outreach initiatives. Parker received a B.A. in Mass Communications from Hampton University and an M.A. in Human Resources from Villanova University. She was named the 2016 HR Professional of the Year by the New Mexico Society of Human Resource Management. She was recognized with a Special Recognition Award at the 2014 Women of Color STEM Awards, and in 2012 graduated from Lockheed Martin’s Executive Assessment & Development Program.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melonieparker

Have you ever wondered why some organizations come up with game changing ideas while others struggle? What can leaders do to ignite creativity and spur innovation? What does it take to push for change and stand up for what you believe in? Our guest is award-winning leader and Chief Marketing Officer Lee Ann Daly, who shares how to build great teams and let good work happen. Throughout her career, Lee Ann has been a pioneer, who is not afraid to break rules or take risks. She is a passionate advocate for bold new ideas that excite people and keep brands relevant.  Lee Ann has been a C-suite leader at public and private companies since 1998–including being CMO at ESPN, Thomson Reuters, Game Show Network. Lee Ann has won wide industry recognition from Cannes Lions to being named Top Female Sports Business Executive by Sports Business Journal. Lee Ann is also an investor and advisor to early stage companies and Board director of the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and The Dean’s Advisory Board at IU’s Media School. Visit www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Lee Ann.   Highlights: [02:15] What drives you [03:30] Lee Ann’s story [08:56] Listen, write, ideate [15:16] Lee Ann’s career journey [25:37] Overcoming self-doubt [30:41] Excelling and demonstrating success [33:58] Creating strong teams [40:37] Driving execution [44:16] Bringing your emotions to work [46:33] Vision for the future [50:19] Advice for success and self-care Quotes: “Being brave is being scared and doing it anyway.” – Lee Ann Daly “Whenever something comes into our consciousness that invites us to take a risk, it's there for a reason, it's coming to us as a gift.” - Lee Ann Daly “Leadership is helping your team understand how they contribute to the overall delivery of the service to the company.” – Lee Ann Daly “Growth is important at every stage of a career.” – Lee Ann Daly “Bring your authentic, separate self to work because it's the only way you'll figure out who you want to become inside the context of business.” – Lee Ann Daly    About Lee Ann Daly: Lee Ann Daly leads business strategy, content creation, marketing and communications for media entertainment, luxury and digital brands. Lee Ann’s aim is to create relevant culture in everything she do.  Lee Ann has been an Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, GM and C-suite leader at public and private companies since 1998. She has won wide industry recognition as well, ranging from Cannes Lions to being named Top Female Sports Business Executive by Sports Business Journal. Lee Ann is an investor and advisor to early stage companies and Board director of the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and The Dean’s Advisory Board at IU’s Media School.   Links: Website: https://leeanndalybio.me/ Podcast website: https://sayitforwardpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeanndaly/ Facebook: Lee Ann Daly Instagram: @boojumlad Twitter: @LeeAnnDaly  

Did you know that, despite accounting for over half of the college-educated workforce, women in the United States made up only 29% of those employed in science and engineering (or STEM) roles? That’s according to the latest research done by the research group, Catalyst. For women of color, the number is even smaller at 11.5%. But here’s an even more disturbing statistic, in engineering, specifically for Latinas, this figure drops to a low of 2.3%! In this episode, we get to celebrate one of these trailblazing Latina women who has worked hard against the odds, fighting tooth and nail, to be in this elite 2.3% - Iliana Quinonez, Sr. Director of Solutions Engineering at Salesforce. Iliana shares exactly what it's like working with the boys and how we can pave the way for future female generations. Iliana is an award winning, Latin Trailblazer Woman in Engineering and a Developer of Leaders. She is a passionate advocate and ambassador for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. Her career in the high tech industry spans over 25 years across 3 continents and more than 15 countries, working at both enterprise and startup companies. She has held leadership positions in several functional areas including solutions engineering, product, and marketing strategy, consulting and business development. She is the former Chair of the Board for Latinoforce, the Salesforce Latinx Employee Resource Group and currently serves as their Advisor. Highlights: [03:42] Iliana’s journey [08:57] Moving forward in moments of uncertainty [11:39] Techniques in dealing with uncertainty [15:42] Iliana’s success habits [19:43] Keys to building your community [23:54] Asking for mentorship [28:06] Secret to achieving your professional goals [35:04] How to accelerate your career in the digital age [38:09] How to do your personal brand audit   Quotes: “Fear is a natural response to uncertainty. But the more exposure you have, the more comfortable you become in those moments .”– Iliana Quinonez “Practice visualizing different scenarios, as it will condition you, psychologically, to be better prepared for challenges.” - Iliana Quinonez “At the end of each day, take some time to review your TODO list and prioritize.” – Iliana Quinonez “Building your network so that it is broad, you need to have different circles that will add value to your network.” – Iliana Quinonez “Find joy and fulfillment in giving to the community at a time when nobody's asking you for something.” – Iliana Quinonez “We don’t have failures, we have experiences and lessons learned.” – Iliana Quinonez “If you aren’t investing in networking, at least a few hours a week, it's something you need to put on your agenda.” – Iliana Quinonez “Be sure to do a brand audit - you need to know what people are saying about you when you're not in the room.” – Iliana Quinonez   About Iliana Quinonez: Iliana is a Latin Trailblazer Woman in Engineering and a Developer of Leaders. She is a passionate advocate and ambassador for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. Her career in the high tech industry spans over 25 years across 3 continents and more than 15 countries, working at both enterprise and startup companies. She has held leadership positions in several functional areas including solutions engineering, product, and marketing strategy, consulting and business development. At Salesforce, she currently leads the Solutions Engineering team for the West Coast. Iliana is the former Chair of the Board for Latinoforce, the company's Latinx Employee Resource Group and currently serves as their Advisor. Iliana is originally from Mexico City, holds a BSc in Computer Science from Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico) and an MSc in Information Systems from the London School of Economics (UK). She lives in San Francisco with her husband and their two daughters.   Links: Website: www.salesforce.com LinkedIn: iliana-quinonez-34794/ Twitter: @iquinonez1

Are you someone who doesn’t have any mentors and has no idea where to find one? OR ... are you someone who knows the right people but don’t know how to ask? In this episode, we will discuss how to find mentors and the do’s and don’ts to build powerful mentoring relationships.   Highlights: [01:00] Why mentorship matters [06:18] What holds people back from getting mentors [08:33] Three keys to finding a mentor [10:03] Mentorship at all stages of life [13:05] Mentorship through content [16:19] Homework for the week Quotes: “Mentors shorten the learning curve by imparting their wisdom and their experience.” – Nikki Barua “One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination.” – John C. Maxwell “Be very specific about your areas of growth and mentoring needs.” – Nikki Barua “A mentoring relationship is a privilege, treat it with the respect it deserves.” – Nikki Barua “Don’t think of mentorship in terms of a specific individual that is ahead of you. Think of mentoring in the context of a mentoring circle.” – Nikki Barua “When you are focused on yourself and doing great work, people will come to you and be excited to help you.”- Monica Marquez   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

Did you know that according to several research studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking.  Number two is death. So, that means, as Jerry Seinfeld famously said, “...if you're at a funeral, it's better to be the deceased in the casket than the person giving the eulogy”. Stage fright is real, but the good news is you can overcome the fear of speaking publicly. More importantly, you have to remind yourself that you aren’t the only one feeling afraid. In this episode, Billie Shepard, author of The Billie Shepard Presentation Method, shares with our listeners some tips and tools to help you get past any fears of speaking and become better presenters, leaders, collaborators, and communicators. Billie has been a presentation coach, as well as a professional actor and acting coach for over 30 years. She’s also worked with clients like Uber, Facebook, Cisco, Intuit, and Splunk to name a few, as well as, thousands of professional actors.   Highlights: [02:16] Billie’s journey [05:29] Intention removes fear [10:15] Overcoming the fear of public speaking [14:31] Tips for impromptu Q&A [17:36] Biggest challenges in presenting [20:29] Preparing for the presentation [25:10] Tips on projecting your message [30:06] Practical tips for Zoom meetings Quotes: “The key to intention is that it removes all fear.”– Billie Shepard “The difference between having an intention and tying it to a feeling is the difference between being brilliant and being good.” - Billie Shepard “Projecting your voice isn't something to fear. It's something to free your personality and energy.” – Billie Shepard “When preparing for a presentation, NEVER start with the slides, the slides are there to support your soul and your message.” - Billie Shepard “People may forget what you’ve said, but they never forget how you made them feel.” – Billie Shepard   About Billie Shepard: Billie delivers a coaching experience that transforms how an actor acts and business people communicate.  Clients have said, “It seems she has a mysterious or supernatural power that influences the creativity, confidence and best abilities of a speaker or performer. What Billie does is magical.” Billie has been a professional actor for over forty years, appearing in lead roles in Equity productions, featured television appearances and numerous national and regional commercials. An acting coach for decades, she founded two acting academies and five acting workshops in four states. Billie has produced and hosted guest-artist workshops including such notable instructors as Academy Award winner, Alan Arkin. Twenty years ago Billie had an idea. She founded Billie Shepard & Associates, leveraging her acting experience and unique training methods into the business arena; transforming corporate speakers into influential leaders. Her clients include Facebook, Uber, Intuit, Rackspace, Lockheed Martin, as well as many financial and medical research companies. This March Billie had another idea! She merged her presentation-training methods with the virtual needs of our times and created a powerful blend of the two. Her book: The Billie Shepard Presentation Method, describing her methods, and participant breakthrough stories of success, recently launched on Amazon.  Billie is a Dean’s Scholar with a BA in Creative Arts and Masters in Theatre Arts from San Jose State University. BILLIE’S WEBSITE: WWW.BILLIESHEPARD.COM   Links: Website: http://www.billieshepard.com/ LinkedIn: billie-shepard-and-associates-59b3534 Facebook: Billie Shepard & Associates