BEYOND BARRIERS

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

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

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

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

What happens to you when you make a mistake that gets called out? Do you get so upset with yourself that you get angry or become paralyzed and begin to doubt your worth? Or worse, you vow to never try that again or opt out of taking the lead? In this episode, we are going to discuss the dangers of this self-defeating pattern and how you can overcome the negative self-talk and develop the confidence to move forward with an action plan. Highlights: [01:15] Don't let a mistake define you [03:27] Break the pattern of negative self-talk [08:13] The emotional toll of negative self-talk [11:03] How to overcome negative self-talk Quotes: "When you make a mistake and make it about who you are versus what you can learn, you don't see the opportunity for growth." – Nikki Barua "Letting go of negative self-talk allows you to take a very optimistic view of challenges and obstacles." – Nikki Barua "The best ways to get past making mistakes is to practice self-acceptance." – Monica Marquez "View mistakes as teachable moments and develop an action plan on how you'll handle the situation the next time it occurs." – Monica Marquez "Move past a mistake quickly by reflecting, gaining insight, and then developing an action plan." – 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

If you are someone who is torn between making a living and making a difference, this episode is for you. We are living in very challenging times. It seems like there are new obstacles every day everywhere. But in the midst of all the crisis, we are also going through a global transformation. Every time there is seismic shift in the world, it leads to something new, and something more profound emerges. And that creates the space and the need for change makers and leaders. That's the opportunity we'll be talking about on this episode. And how you can be that change maker and leader - and grow your impact, income and influence. Highlights: [00:46] Innovation in times of disruption [02:15] Your role in this time of innovation [03:53] Challenges that women face in rising up [04:46] Raising your hand for opportunities [06:33] Asking for support and sponsorship [10:28] The importance of having clarity [13:59] The impact of mentors and sponsors [14:50] Managing your career [16:44] How coaching accelerates your success [23:35] Democratizing access to executive coaching Quotes: "The greatest problems we face as a human population today will be solved by technology and the power of the human mind coming together."– Nikki Barua "If nobody at the top knows you, has heard your name, or knows your impact, then it's going to be tough to get the sponsorship and support when you're not in the room." – Nikki Barua "Research shows only 15% of women who responded said that they had clarity about their career in the next five years." – Monica Marquez "You have to have absolute clarity about your north star because if you don't know where you're headed, how are you going to get there?"– Nikki Barua "You can work really hard and be great at doing your job and not be managing your career. And what gets you ahead is managing your career intentionally." – Nikki Barua "You don't have just one job that you have to do really well. You have two jobs, you have your day job, and you have to manage your career." – Monica Marquez "If you want to help other people rise up as leaders that make a difference, then you have to help yourself first." – Monica Marquez "Coaching paired with leadership training can act as an equalizer between men and women." – Monica Marquez "When you are a star athlete, coaching and training makes you an Olympian." – 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

Let discuss a scenario we've all experienced–that moment when your inner voice is telling you (sometimes maybe screaming at you) that you need to have a difficult conversation with someone. A conversation that would improve life at work for ourselves and for everyone else around. But fear drowns out that inner voice—and we put the conversation off. Meanwhile, the other individual continues to engage in interpersonal conflicts and exhibit toxic behavior, or remains completely clueless about what's on your mind. In this episode, we'll share with you the strategies and insights you need to know to be able to speak up and diffuse any difficult conversation. Highlights: [01:26] Why diffusing difficult conversations matter [05:19] What does the research show on these conversations [08:22] Having difficult conversations is a skill [10:03] 5-step framework to having difficult conversations Quotes: "Reframe having difficult conversations as a skill. Do you have the skill or do you not have the skill and if you don't have the skill, then like any skill, it can be learned." – Nikki Barua "Step 1 of the framework is to not avoid having difficult conversations. You will never develop the skill if you do not practice it." – Nikki Barua "Be clear on the outcome. If you're not clear about what you want, you're not going to be able to manage your physiology and your language and you're going to lose control." – Nikki Barua "Listen to learn. Listen from a place of curiosity and humility, where you want to learn, as opposed to listening to respond." – Nikki Barua "Brainstorm from a place of inquiry and creativity to figure out a solution together, creating collaboration and safety so you can engage in a more meaningful conversation." – 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

Does this sound familiar? It's 6am and the alarm goes off. You hit the snooze button and try to catch a few more minutes of sleep. Then the alarm goes off again and you hit snooze one more time. On the third try, you finally get out of bed, grab your phone and check your email. You see several messages from your colleagues about something urgent that needs your attention. You'd hoped to workout this morning but instead you're responding to emails and putting out fires at work. You feel the anxiety bubbling up already and you haven't even brushed your teeth yet! In today's episode, we'll share with you the morning routine of successful people and how you can stop the frenzy and start the day with magic. Highlights: [01:34] Why your morning routine matters [03:46] How to design the right environment and routine [06:16] The 5-step routine [19:22] Making time for your routine Quotes: "The most successful people have a very defined and intentional start to their day." – Nikki Barua "It's important for you to set boundaries and design the right environment and create the right routines for yourself." – Nikki Barua "Meditation is simply a way for you to become mindful and focus on the present moment." – Nikki Barua "Simply having the attitude of gratitude puts you in the right mindset to take on your day." – Nikki Barua "Inspiration builds that momentum to keep going every day towards your vision and goals." – Nikki Barua "Write down your commitment for the day to clarify what is the most important thing for you to accomplish that day to move you towards achieving your goals." – Nikki Barua "The 5-step process of Meditation, Activation, Gratitude, Inspiration, Commitment spells MAGIC." – 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