Roar with Lakecia Gunter Breaking Barriers in Leadership & Tech: My Conversation with Merline Saintil
In this powerful episode of ROAR, I sit down with the inspiring Merline Saintil—a tech trailblazer and Fortune 500 board director—to explore how breaking barriers, authentic networking, and redefining leadership can transform careers. We dive deep into her journey from a software engineer overcoming early language barriers to becoming a respected leader in the tech industry. Merline shares intimate insights about how mentorship, perseverance, and a commitment to service have shaped her career and allowed her to create groundbreaking initiatives like Black Women on Boards.
Our conversation also shines a light on the importance of sharing our stories and building non-overlapping networks that empower us to seize new opportunities. I was especially moved by Merline’s candid advice on being intentional with your time and taking risks in your career, as well as her work on the Onboard documentary—a film that highlights the challenges and triumphs of Black women in leadership. Tune in to discover actionable strategies for fostering diversity and inclusion in your own organization and learn how you too can ROAR with reflection, opportunity, action, and relationships.
In This Episode You Will Learn:
- [00:59] The Essence of ROAR: Discover what ROAR stands for and why every one of us carries a hidden power waiting to be unleashed.
- [01:28] Redefining Leadership: Learn how Merline’s unique approach to leadership and authentic networking has opened doors in the tech industry.
- [03:48] From Engineer to Board Director: Hear Merline’s transformative journey from a software engineer to leading global product teams and serving on Fortune 500 boards.
- [08:31] The Power of Networking: Understand how building non-overlapping networks and authentic relationships can propel your career.
- [15:34] Founding Black Women on Boards: Get insights into the mission behind Black Women on Boards and how it’s reshaping diversity in corporate America.
- [22:45] The Onboard Documentary: Learn about the vision for the Onboard documentary and its role in spotlighting the challenges faced by Black women in leadership.
- [32:00] Final Leadership Advice: Absorb Merline’s empowering advice on risk-taking, seizing opportunities, and understanding that “pressure is a privilege.”
I hope you find as much inspiration in this conversation as I did. Let’s keep breaking barriers and lifting each other as we climb—together we can ROAR!
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