BEYOND BARRIERS

Executive presence - is it a skill or a trait people are born with? It’s a term that’s often perceived as something magical, or mystical that many people struggle to understand. What is it, why is it important, and how can I get it? In this episode, Monica shares the research on executive presence, what exactly is executive presence, and why it’s important to accelerating your success. DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz Highlights: [01:28] Executive presence – skill or trait? [02:53] Why is executive presence important? [03:36] What does the research show [06:26] What is executive presence? [11:58] Executive presence starts from the inside Quotes: “Executive presence is a skill. It's not a trait. That means it's something that you can cultivate, it's something that you can develop.” – Monica Marquez “According to Sylvia Ann Hewlett’s research, executive presence accounted for 26% of what it takes to get promoted to leadership positions.” – Monica Marquez “The secret to great executive presence lies in finding the sweet spot between being that compassionate, authentic leader, but still making tough decisions, and being able to decide and help people move forward and making those hard choices and owning it with confidence and integrity.” – 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

What would happen if you let go of control and embrace life no matter what comes your way? Serendipitous moments have the power to shape your destiny.  Meet Anouck Gotlib, CEO of Belgian Boys, who shares how a fortuitous seating arrangement on a plane ride from Belgium to New York led to meeting her husband, building a multi-million dollar company, and becoming the proud mama of two adorable boys. Anouck was born in Belgium, studied Fashion Design and then worked at fashion houses in NYC. After meeting Greg, she stepped away from fashion and stepped into entrepreneurship full time.  Today, Anouck leads a passionate team dedicated to creating joy for customers and spreading sweetness in people's lives. Her leadership has fueled the exponential growth of the company, brought in high profile investors, and gained recognition as one of the fastest growing companies on the Inc 5000 list. Anouck is on a mission to turn up the happy - one sweet moment at a time. Belgian Boys is in the business of fun, offering a delicious assortment of breakfast, sweet treats, and desserts available in 5000 stores and online. Anouck believes that the key to joy is to embrace the journey and trust the timing of your life knowing that the universe has your back.  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 Anouck. Highlights: [02:31] The creation of Belgian Boys [04:06] How Anouck met her husband & their life together [05:58] Where Belgian Boys is today [07:35] Anouck’s superpower [11:35] Overcoming fear and self-doubt  [16:07] Belgian Boys is a family affair [18:09] Anouck’s success habits [21:13] Balancing work and family [24:58] How becoming a mom changed Anouck’s perspective  [27:50] Alignment of values with your investors [35:54] The importance of giving [38:36] Where to get Belgian Boys delicious treats [39:11] Lightning round questions Quotes: “Asking for help is not a weakness. It’s all about knowing who to ask for help.” – Anouck Gotlib “Mindfulness changed my life. It is something I embrace. It is something I bring into my every day.” – Anouck Gotlib “You’re the center of your kid’s universe. And it doesn’t need to be complicated, just take the time to read a book with them.” – Anouck Gotlib  Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”   What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? Happiness Spreader What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? Mindfulness. Bringing that into my life has changed who I am. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest About Anouck Gotlib: Anouck Gotlib, CEO of Belgian Boys, is on a mission to turn up the happy - one sweet moment at a time. Launched in 2015, Belgian Boys is in the business of fun, offering a delicious assortment of breakfast, sweet treats, and desserts available in 5000 stores and online. She leads a passionate team dedicated to growing more than just a revenue-driven business - creating joy for customers and spreading sweetness in people's lives. Anouck was born in Antwerp, Belgium and studied Fashion Design before working at fashion houses including Zac Posen and Natan. A fortuitous seating arrangement on a plane ride from Belgium to New York put Anouck in touch with Belgian Boys founder (and her eventual husband) Greg. Anouck spent long nights and weekends working to launch the brand before stepping away from fashion and into entrepreneurship full time. Anouck and Greg live in Brooklyn, NY with their two sons who start each day with Belgian Boys mini pancakes. Links: Websites: https://www.anouckgotlib.com/ https://www.belgianboys.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anouck-gotlib/  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/belgianboys/  Twitter:  https://twitter.com/belgianboys  https://twitter.com/AnouckGotlib Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Belgianboys/

At some point in our lives, we have all engaged in creative activities simply for casual enjoyment or as a hobby. From painting to writing to cooking or singing, there are many ways that creativity plays a part in our daily lives. But creative expression is far more than a hobby or a vocation. Throughout history, creativity has played a role in many aspects of human life. From technological advancements to mental health and well being, creative expression can unlock the roadblocks and barriers and fuel innovation and success. Meet our podcast guest and my good friend, Sheila Darcey, who is the founder of SketchPoetic - a creative expression practice for emotional healing and transformation. Sheila’s purpose is to elevate art as a tool for healing and be a catalyst to transform lives. Sheila is an innovator who has been instrumental in shaping the culture and diversity of companies, and is a strong advocate for women's leadership and empowerment across organizations. In this episode, Sheila shares what led her to become a health and wellness advocate, why daily self-care is so important, and how creative expression can help you remove roadblocks and unlock your transformation.  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 Sheila. Highlights:  [03:17] The key mental health trend that emerged since 2020 and the pandemic [05:23] Addressing stigmas around mental health [07:25] What it means to be mentally in your body [09:23] What business leaders should embrace about health & wellness  [12:45] How busy professionals can practice self-care [16:45] Metaverse, crypto, and NFT - what’s the connection? [20:00] How to step into the metaverse and Web3 [23:12] Trusting our intuition [28:06] Sheila’s inspiration for her book, SKETCH BY SKETCH [31:10] Sheila’s process for writing [35:18] Living in a world of overconsumption [38:55] Key takeaways from SKETCH BY SKETCH [42:20] Lightning round questions [49:03] How our feelings of safety are triggered [53:22] Sheila’s power song Quotes: “What we value is what we pay attention to.” – Sheila Darcey   “The moment fear invades any situation or subject matter, it is going to be polarizing.” – Sheila Darcey   “There’s an inner peace and calmness that regulates your body when you’re doing the things you want to do.” – Sheila Darcey Lightning Round Questions:   What book has greatly influenced you?   The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho   What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?   And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.   What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? SketchPoetic   What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?   Paying attention to my breath   What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?   Run the World (Girls) by Beyoncé   About Sheila Darcey:   Sheila Darcey is an innovator with 20 years of experience in transforming businesses across a variety of industries. She guides expert teams in crafting the strategies and building the digital products that help brands innovate. Sheila has been instrumental in shaping the culture of and diversity of companies. She is a strong advocate for women's leadership and empowerment across organizations.In addition to her corporate career, she recently returned to her artist's roots and founded SketchPoetic, a creative expression practice. Her purpose is to serve as a catalyst for people's transformation and elevate art as a tool for healing.“The beauty of SketchPoetic is in the process of creation itself. I want people to connect with the process as much as the outcome - to create without planning, without analyzing, without fear, and without expectations… because it’s liberating. It’s about being in a safe place to quiet the mind and spark the child-like curiosity we sometimes lose in our busy lives.” Links: Website: https://www.sketchpoetic.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sketch-Creative-Emotional-Transformation-SketchPoetic/dp/1250773873/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheiladarcey/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sketchpoetic/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheiladarcey

Adam Bryant, author of the bestselling book, Corner Office, asked over 700 CEOs, “What qualities do you see most often in those who succeed?”. The number one answer: Curiosity. Most of the ingenious inventions and extraordinary ideas throughout history all have something in common. From Thomas Edison’s light bulb, Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone to self-driving cars, they are all a result of curiosity. Meet our guest and Forbes 50 over 50 winner, Fran Dunaway, who is the co-founder of TomboyX, a gender neutral underwear and apparel brand.  TomboyX started as a passion project in collaboration with her wife and co-founder Naomi Gonzalez to create the perfect button-up shirt, but then pivoted to focus on underwear based on the overwhelming demand for their first boxer brief for women.  Under Fran’s leadership, TomboyX doubled in YoY growth and was recognized on Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest growing companies for 4 consecutive years. In this episode, Fran shares how she followed her curiosity to entrepreneurial success; what techniques have helped her navigate risk and uncertainty; and why it’s important for brands to be a force for positive change and inspire conversation about gender, confidence, acceptance, and inclusion.  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 Fran.   Highlights:  [03:01] Taking the leap into entrepreneurship [05:51] Discovering your strengths [07:53] Open yourself up to Rainbow Unicorn Moments [10:51] Asking for help [12:55] Don’t take rejection personally [14:51] Fran’s approach to risk-taking [18:12] Overcoming setbacks [21:02] Staying ahead of the curve [22:32] A Day in the life of Fran [24:22] Lightning round questions [29:08] What’s next for Fran   Quotes: “When something goes right or the day is saved, remember that it is because of all of the things that you do that open yourself up to those magical moments.” – Fran Dunaway   “Be careful with the stories that you're telling yourself about why a rejection occurred. You may not have full insight into the why.” – Fran Dunaway   “Find those people in your network and be specific in your ask for where you are and what you need right now to help you.” - Fran Dunaway   Lightning Round Questions:   What book has greatly influenced you?   Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg   What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?   Can't Never Could.   What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?   Fun-loving   What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?   Trusting my gut would be the big thing along the way and following it and knowing that it's right and believing in myself in that way.   What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? “Good as Hell” by Lizzo About Fran Dunaway: One of the inaugural Forbes 50 over 50, Fran Dunaway is a media executive-turned-fashion entrepreneur and co-founder of TomboyX, a Seattle-based gender neutral underwear and apparel brand launched in 2013. The brand started as a passion project in collaboration with her wife and co-founder Naomi Gonzalez to create the perfect button-up shirt, pivoting to focus on underwear based on the overwhelming demand for their first boxer brief for women. Fran and TomboyX are driven by a belief that brands can be a force for positive change, and their messaging promotes a human agenda to inspire conversation about gender, confidence, acceptance, and inclusion. As CEO, Fran has led TomboyX to doubled YoY growth and industry recognition that has included four consecutive years on Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest growing companies and being named Small Business of the Year for King County and Fastest Growing Minority-Owned Company by the Puget Sound Business Journal. Prior to founding TomboyX, Fran spent over 15 years in media production including Director-level roles with political consulting firms. Her work included managing multi-million dollar budgets and large teams in production of TV/radio ads and animations for congressional candidates and social causes. She has also produced TV episodes for PBS and independent films, with festival showings at Sundance and DigiDance.Fran is active in social causes and served as Executive Director of Equal Rights Washington, a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ rights successfully advocated for passage of anti-discrimination legislation (Washington House Bill 2661) in 2006. She also served on the Steering Committee and Board of Governors of the Human Rights Campaign’s Seattle chapter. Links: Website: https://tomboyx.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frandunaway/ Instagram:  https://instagram.com/fnawesomeadventure https://www.instagram.com/tomboyx/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/fdunaway https://twitter.com/tomboyx

What are you passionate about and enjoy doing? Is it aligned to your work? At first glance, the question, "What are you passionate about and enjoy doing?", presents itself as an innocent question. But, as you begin to answer that question, it can become more difficult to connect the dots between those passions and skill sets you love, to the actual work you do on a day-to-day basis.  How do you gain this clarity and get more aligned in your career? Where do you even begin? In this episode, Monica shares how to define your passions, discover what you love to learn about, and how to align your passions with your profession.   𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗛𝗦 & 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz   Highlights: [01:50] Defining your passions  [03:19] Discovering what you love to learn about [06:47] Aligning your passion to your work   Quotes: “You have to gift yourself the time for introspection so that you can go in the direction that you're wanting to go and accelerate your success.” – Monica Marquez “You become excellent at what you spend your time and focus on.”  – 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

The phrase “reach for the stars” is said to come from a poem written by Virgil called the Aeneid. This Latin poem was written sometime between 29 and 19 BC. The simple meaning behind it was to “set your goals in life high in order to achieve success.” It’s an inspiring quote. However, we often overlook the word “stars” and set our sights on one “big” North Star. We then design a single path to reach that goal and forget to appreciate the collection of stars we acquire along the way that make up our very own beautiful constellation.    Our guest, Professor Sharon Goldfeld, is a pediatrician and public health physician at the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Centre for Community Child Health and Theme Director for Population Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research institute, who shares her career journey and how she visualizes each of her accomplishments as stars she collected along the way to her North Star, building an amazing constellation of stars that fueled her career success. She explains how she harnessed the “burn” or “power” from each star to help her achieve her North Star.   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 Sharon.   Highlights: [02:30] Sharon’s journey and one key lesson learned [04:17] Gaining clarity on your career path [13:42] Overcoming doubt and seizing the opportunity [19:39] Work-life integration [25:32] The stars along the way towards your North Star [28:05] A great team is vital to success [31:53] Relationship-building is the most important skill [38:33] Being agile & pivoting during COVID [42:47] The importance of self-care [44:54] Sharon’s parting words of wisdom   Quotes: “Having a great team allows you to do more and allows your passion to fuel others.” – Sharon Goldfeld   “Relationship building is the most important skill any of us can have.” - Sharon Goldfeld   “When you are passionate about something, stoking that passion makes it burn more.” – Sharon Goldfeld   About Sharon Goldfeld:   Professor Sharon Goldfeld is a pediatrician and public health physician at the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Centre for Community Child Health and Theme  Director for Population Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research institute. She has a decade of experience in state government as senior policymaker in health and education, including holding the role of Principal Medical Advisor in the Victorian Department of Education and Training. Her unique career has seamlessly straddled research, policy and practice with her cross-sectoral approach ensuring her research is roust and of high policy and practice utility for greater translation success. Her research program focuses on addressing disadvantage and inequity though epidemiological studies, developing metrics to drive system change, and community based randomised controlled trials (RCT’s) in both health and education to improve child development. As the COVID-19 pandemic deepens, Prof Goldfeld has led the effort at MCRI to leverage existing cohort studies to provide a unique understanding on how the pre-pandemic experiences of children and families shape risk and resilience for children during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in its aftermath. Sharon was recently awarded the inaugural Marles Medal for excellence in original research that led to outstanding achievement in research impact.   Links: Website: https://www.mcri.edu.au/users/dr-sharon-goldfeld LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-goldfeld-2717b612/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharon_goldfeld  

Tuesday, March 8th was International Women’s Day! And this year’s theme is #BreakTheBias –to imagine a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.Yet, our reality is in stark contrast to this future vision. We are living in very challenging times. Itseems like there are new obstacles and conflicts every day. And women are being disproportionately affected everywhere. In this episode, Monica discusses the theme for International Women’s Day, why breaking the bias matters, and shares the 5 key areas of focus to accelerate success. DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz Highlights: [00:34] Theme of International Women’s Day – Break the bias [01:39] Disruption through game-changing innovation [04:28] Statistics on women getting left behind – the gender gap [06:39] 5 key areas to accelerate success [12:42] Beyond Barriers’ mission Quotes: “More wealth will be created in the next 10 years than in the past 100 years.” – Monica Marquez “Women shouldn't have to wait more than two centuries to get equal income and opportunities.” – Monica Marquez “The biggest power skill is learning, having certainty on your ability to succeed even in the midst of uncertainty knowing that you have that competency to learn.” - Monica Marquez “You can't change hearts and minds if you're invisible. Visibility creates awareness and awareness leads to acceptance. And that changes the world.” - 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

Magical things happen when your passions meet purpose and ultimately leads to your profession. When it happens, it sparks curiosity, confidence and motivates you to explore the awe of the unknown. You’re able to tap into your wow factor and create impact for others and for yourself along the way. But, as we all know, it’s much easier said than done and it takes courage to follow your heart and not conform to cultural and societal norms. Meet our guest Ida Liu, who shares her journey of following her passions which took her from the world of finance to fashion and ultimately back to finance with the idea of pitching a fashion, retail, and entertainment practice to Citi, thus bringing her two worlds together. The rest is history.  Ida Liu is the Global Head of Citi Private Bank and a member of the Citi Global Wealth Leadership team. Ida leads the Private Banking activities in 50 offices across 18 countries and delivers wealth management solutions to ultra-high net worth families and their businesses globally. Before becoming the Global Head, she was the Head of Citi Private Bank North America and held numerous other leadership roles. 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 Ida. Highlights: [02:41] Ida’s journey [06:34] Shattering the glass and bamboo ceiling [08:22] Gaining clarity on career path [12:24] Moving forward though fear [15:41] Connecting your passion, strengths & profession [18:29] The importance of community [20:21] Embrace your learning journey [22:17] Mentors and sponsors and why you need both [24:46] Dedicating time to health and wellness [28:50] Staying ahead of the curve [28:54] Work-life integration [30:56] What gets measured gets done [33:14] The importance of setting boundaries [37:43] Ida answers lightning round questions Quotes: “Seeing is believing. We've got to make sure we lift others up. We have to share the lessons that we've learned along the way to help others get to that next level.” – Ida Liu “Never underestimate your network. And never underestimate networking early on.” – Ida Liu “When you're doubting yourself, you’ve got to play to your strengths and show them why you deserve a seat at the table.” - Ida Liu “What gets measured gets done.” - Ida Liu Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - Think Again by Adam Grant What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - “If you want to make everybody happy, don't be a leader, sell ice cream.” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Fantastic listener What is one change you implanted that made your life better? - Meditation What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - Cold Heart (Pnau remix) by Elton John and Dua Lipa About Ida Liu: Ida Liu is the Global Head of Citi Private Bank and a member of the Citi Global Wealth Leadership team. Ida leads the Private Banking activities in 50 offices across 18 countries and delivers wealth management solutions to ultra-high net worth families and their businesses globally. Before becoming the Global Head, she was the Head of Citi Private Bank North America and held numerous other leadership roles. Ida created Citi Private Bank’s North America Asian Clients Group, and she started her career at Citi by launching and heading the Fashion, Retail and Entertainment Group. Before joining Citi, Ida was at Vivienne Tam, a women’s wear design house, where she was Global Head of Sales, Marketing, Public Relations and Business Development. Prior to this, Ida spent seven years in investment banking with Merrill Lynch’s mergers and acquisitions and technology, media and telecommunications investment banking groups in New York and Hong Kong. She started her career in mergers and acquisitions at BT Wolfensohn (now Deutsche Bank). Ida has received many industry accolades including Barron’s 10 Most Influential Women in Wealth Management, Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance, Crain’s Notable Women on Wall Street and American Banker’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance. Additionally, Ida is a Young Global Leader (YGL) of the World Economic Forum, a member of The Committee of 100 (C100) and Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). Ida serves on the UCLA Health Advisory Board as well as the Asia Society Board.  Ida holds a BA with honors from Wellesley College and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and conversant in Russian. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idaliu/

Is your current job aligned with your passions? Do you have clarity on a career path that will get you to your desired level at your company? According to the Working Mother Research Institute, 77% of women say a top barrier to gender equity is a lack of information on how to advance in their careers. And only 15% of women say that they have clarity on career paths that lead to C-suite roles. Having clarity on your passions and career goals is critical for success. If you don't know where you're going, how can you expect to get where you want to be? In this episode, Monica discusses the focus on professional women during Women’s History Month, shares how to find your Ikigai, and why it’s important to career success. DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz Highlights: [00:40] The focus on professional women during Women’s History Month [02:08] Is your career trajectory moving you towards the top? [02:34] Research findings from Working Mother Media [03:46] What is your Ikigai? [10:28] Gaining clarity on our career path Quotes: “Your Ikigai can be translated simply as a reason to get up in the morning.” – Monica Marquez “Your passion is at the intersection of what you love and what you are good at.” – 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

This is our last podcast episode of the 2021. And we're so grateful, honored and blown away by the amazing podcast guests we've had on our show this past year. So, we thought what better way to close out the year than to share with you a recap of some of the best and inspirational pearls of wisdom that our guests shared in 2021? In this episode, Nikki and Monica, share nuggets of wisdom from some of the best and brightest minds in business that have been generous in terms of sharing their learning experiences and their advice to all our listeners, every single episode is filled with all this incredible wisdom! 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. DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz Highlights: [00:57] Celebrating our 200 th episode [03:46] Most popular episode of the year [05:14] Recap of the top 20 episodes [24:44] Happy New Year from Beyond Barriers Quotes: “When you encounter a failure, think about what you can learn from it rather than replaying the event over and over in your head. Put the record player away and move forward with the lesson.” – Kimberley Gardiner “Ask yourself what are the three most important things that you need to do today and focus on those.” - Janet Van Huysse “Ask yourself, periodically, if you are limiting yourself or are you in a limited situation.” - Stephanie Kinser “Every day you have an opportunity to determine your brand and how you want to be remembered.” - Anna Dapelo Garcia “You're never 100% ready for that next role. The best way to really be ready is by doing it.” - Michelle Frymire “When you are trying to develop your brand or your business, lead with the things that you want to leave people with, because that's what they're going to remember.” - Shelly Rosensweig “Always be open to listening to everyone’s advice but have the conviction to decide for yourself.” – Fran Maier “Figure out what makes you feel confident. Because once you get that confidence and tame the voice inside your head, asking becomes easy.” - Jennifer Prosek “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 Lopez “It is important to manage your life around making sure that you're constantly learning.” - Eileen Schloss “Life is the journey; it is not the station. Striving and solving problems is life.” - Jennifer Lagaly “Talent exists everywhere, opportunity does not. It's about creating access and opportunity.” - Ripa Rashid “Take the hard assignments at the beginning of your career because you learn exponentially more than you learn in taking the easy assignments.” - Elisa Steele “Don't tell yourself no before somebody else has. Give them the opportunity to say no, but don't discount yourself.” - Stacey Gordon “Realize that we are responsible for our careers, we own our careers, not the company, not your mentor, not your spouse, or your partner.” - Shellye Archambeau “When given a choice, choose to play, you’ll learn more than sitting on the sideline observing.” - Selena Rezvani “Be genuine and intentional in sharing your story lest others tell it for you.” - Ana Corrales “Learn how to manage your self-talk. You can make or break yourself just on your thoughts.” - Shalini Vadhera “Success is like a 3-legged stool. The first leg is all about honing your talent. The second is refining your executive presence and the third comes as a result of the other two legs –gaining sponsorship from senior leaders.” - Indhira Arrington “Leaders who hire people smarter than them will have a thriving group who can achieve great things.” - Dr. Emily Drabant Conley 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