BEYOND BARRIERS

Welcome to Season 2 of the Beyond Barriers podcast! If you are an ambitious woman who wants to advance in leadership, then this podcast is for you. In each episode, we interview thought leaders, industry influencers and C-level executives from top corporations. Listen to our guests share their perspective on leadership in the age of artificial intelligence, autonomy and authenticity. From inspiring stories to cutting-edge strategies, you'll learn exactly how our guests made it to the top and the invaluable lessons they have learned in their own journey. This podcast is co-hosted by Nikki Barua - Digital Innovator, Serial Entrepreneur, Author & Speaker. And Monica Marquez - Senior Corporate Leader, ex-Googler, and Diversity Expert. As thought leaders in innovation and inclusion, we bring unique insights on how to develop the skillset, mindset and toolset to get future-ready fast and accelerate your success. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Visit iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and links, including the best way to connect with our guests. 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

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

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

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

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