BEYOND BARRIERS

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

Robin Sharma once said, “Success is not a function of the size of your title but the richness of your contribution.” It's about impact, influence and inspiration. Our guests are a perfect example of the power of sincere and selfless contribution and how it fosters true fulfilment. Meet Dr. Ganesh Natarajan & Dr. Uma Ganesh, Co-Founders of 5F World, who share their career journeys and how their shared values of working for the good of the community and their country has inspired them to create impact and opportunity using their 5F framework – Fast, Focused, Flexible, Friendly and Fun. Dr. Ganesh Natarajan is the Executive Chairman of 5F World, a platform for Digital Start-ups, Skills and Social Ventures. He is also Chairman of Honeywell Automation India Limited and Lighthouse Communities Foundation and a Board member of the State Bank of India, Hinduja Global Solutions, Global Talent Track, Educate Girls and the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network. Ganesh is a Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Bombay and NITIE. Dr. Uma Ganesh is the co-founder of 5F World and founder of multiple companies including Global Talent Track focused on skills development for the digital era, Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics, Kalzoom Advisors and Skills Alpha – the digital platform for talent development. In this episode, Uma & Ganesh share their vision, the foundational pillars of their partnership, why learning should be a collective collaboration, and how leaders should view talent differently for the future. 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 Dr. Ganesh Natarajan & Dr. Uma Ganesh. Highlights: [02:54] Uma’s story [07:50] Ganesh’s story [10:21] Uma & Ganesh’s shared vision [13:46] The foundational pillar of Ganesh & Uma’s partnership [16:14] The importance of taking risks [19:25] In service of something bigger [23:48] The formation of 5F World [27:35] The future is collective collaborative learning [31:07] How leaders should be looking at talent for the future [39:09] The habits of success [45:16] Who you surround yourself with matters [48:35} Ganesh & Uma’s message to the world Quotes: “it's not about making money for ourselves or for shareholders, it’s about doing good work for the community, the country, with people whom we love, and who we want to see succeed.” – Dr. Ganesh Natarajan “Life is a journey where you learn from failures, and you learn from successes.” – Dr. Uma Ganesh “For every negative event that takes you away from your path, I’ve always found that there are five helping hands there to support me.” – Dr. Uma Ganesh “Purpose, focus and a positive attitude will keep you going towards success.” – Dr. Uma Ganesh “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” – Dr. Ganesh Natarajan “Believe in yourself. Don’t stop, just do it.” – Dr. Uma Ganesh “Try to make sure that everything is done in the shortest possible time and with the maximum possible impact.” - Dr. Ganesh Natarajan About Dr. Ganesh Natarajan: Dr. Ganesh Natarajan is the Executive Chairman of 5F World, a platform for Digital Start-ups, Skills and Social Ventures in the country. He is also Chairman of Honeywell Automation India Limited and Lighthouse Communities Foundation and a Board member of the State Bank of India, Hinduja Global Solutions, Global Talent Track, Educate Girls and the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network. Ganesh is a Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Bombay and NITIE. He has been Chairman of NASSCOM and President of the HBS Club of India and led APTECH and then Zensar Technologies to global success from 1991 to 2016. Harvard Business School (HBS) has written and teaches two case studies on his work. About Dr. Uma Ganesh: Uma Ganesh has three decades of success in corporate and entrepreneurial ventures covering manufacturing, media, banking and IT sectors. Uma has had indepth exposure to functional areas such as marketing, product management, finance and operations through CXO/CEO positions with large organisations having their footprint in India and global markets. Her last corporate assignment was with HSBC as their Chief Corporate Development Officer for its Global Resourcing Business and previously she has been associated with Zee Education, Aptech, NIIT, Fibre Glass Pilkington and Crompton Greaves.  Over the last decade, Uma has turned an entrepreneur founding Global Talent Track focussed on skills development for the digital era, Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics, Kalzoom Advisors and Skills Alpha – the digital platform for talent development. One of the noteworthy initiatives is 5F World Pvt Ltd cofounded with Dr Ganesh Natarajan which is focussed on consulting for digital transformation and investment in digital startups. Uma’s academic credentials include MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi and Phd from IIT Bombay. She has played leadership roles in several industry forums namely CII, NHRD Network, Bombay Management Association, Indian Women’s Network (IWN) to name a few. She has co-authored a book – a Tata McGraw Hill publication ‘Knowledge Force’ with Dr Ganesh Natarajan and has a regular column in the Financial Express focussed around Digital technologies. Links: Websites: https://ganeshnatarajan.in/ http://5fworld.com/ Recent Books: RISING TO THE CHINA CHALLENGE: WINNING THROUGH STRATEGIC PATIENCE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH Accelerating Digital Success: Reimagining Organisations for a Post-COVID-19 World LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ganeshnatarajan/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/uma-ganesh-77369217/

Regardless of how big our dreams may be, we cannot get there without a compelling vision, specific goals, adaptable roadmap, and daily focus. Most people start out with big dreams but settle for broken ones. Isn’t that the sad truth? That’s why commitment matters. It helps you turn your dreams into your destiny. And when you are able to execute consistently, that’s when you unlock high performance and accelerate success. In this episode, Monica shares why commitment matters, how goal achievement is linked to the habits we develop and the systems and tools we use, and how to create a clear and compelling vision both personally and professionally. DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz Highlights: [01:53] Why commitment matters [04:29] Goal achievement is about systems and tools [06:19] Creating a clear compelling long-term vision [07:58] How to start gaining clarity on your vision [10:17] What is your theme for the year? Quotes: “There is no magic pill for achieving your goals. It’s adopting the tools, systems and habits in order to execute.” – Monica Marquez “Our dreams and aspirations for the future determine where we're going to invest our time and energy every single day.” – 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

In 2005, Steve Jobs shared a personal story during his commencement address at Stanford. The story was about connecting dots. The central idea behind it was that everything happens for a reason but you won’t know the exact reason looking forward…you can only connect the dots looking back. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, karma, whatever it may be, and move forward with confidence that the dots will somehow connect in the future. So, follow your dreams and do what you love and it will all connect in the end. Our guest today, Kelly Laferriere, Chief Business Officer at A-Rod Corp, shares her career journey and how following her heart and trusting her gut has led to her success. And, how it is only now that she is able to look back and connect the dots of each experience she’s lived and appreciate how they all have contributed to where she is today. In her current role at the A-Rod Corp, Kelly focuses on strategic operations, investments, media and entertainment, and marketing. Kelly also serves as the Advisor to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, owners of NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. She is a business and brand builder with experience in large companies and startups. Kelly has worked in media, sports, and entertainment for more than two decades, first at ESPN, on the Programming and Acquisitions senior management team, and then at Six Flags, where she led the business and operations of east coast parks. In addition to her current role, Kelly is also President of Slam Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that is an equal partnership of Alex Rodriguez and Himanshu Gulati, the founder and Chairman of Antara Capital. In this episode, Kelly shares the importance of following your personal mission, vision and values, advice on shifting your mindset away from limiting beliefs, and why authenticity is the key to building and maintaining relationships. 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 Kelly. Highlights: [03:07] Kelly’s journey [05:51] Shifting your mindset around limiting beliefs [08:11] Following your mission, vision and values [10:03] Articulating your unique value proposition [12:19] Showing your value authentically [14:31] Taking risks & seizing opportunity [16:05] Kelly’s success habits [17:25] Focusing on the right things at the right time [20:00] Building connection and relationships [25:26] Mentors don’t have to look like you [28:54] The importance of self-care Quotes: “Sharing your story not only benefits you but others as well.” – Kelly Laferriere “When making difficult decisions, you need to check across your head, your heart and your gut.” – Kelly Laferriere “It is important to remember that building professional relationships is about creating win-win situations.” - Kelly Laferriere “Identify leaders that empower you, respect and support you, and provide an environment where you have opportunity.” - Kelly Laferriere About Kelly Laferriere: As Chief Business Officer at A-Rod Corp, Kelly Laferriere focuses on strategic operations, investments, media and entertainment, and marketing. In addition, Kelly serves as the Advisor to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, owners of NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. She is a business and brand builder with experience in large companies and startups. Kelly has worked in media, sports, and entertainment for more than two decades, first at ESPN, on the Programming and Acquisitions senior management team, and then at Six Flags, where she led the business and operations of east coast parks. In addition to serving as Chief Business Officer at A-Rod Corp, Kelly is President of Slam Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that is an equal partnership of Alex Rodriguez and Himanshu Gulati, the founder and Chairman of Antara Capital. ‍ Kelly is a graduate of Georgetown University and a member of the Georgetown Angel Investor Network. Links: Website: https://www.arodcorp.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellylaferriere/ Johnson O’Connor: Aptitude testing: https://www.jocrf.org Via Survey: Character strengths: https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register Book: 15 Commitments to Conscious Leadership: https://amzn.to/3daM5TX

Dr. Wayne Dyer, the “Father of Motivation” once said, “In all misfortune there is fortune. With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.” Our guest, Dr. Emily Drabant Conley, shares how she chose to leverage her struggles growing up in the Midwest as a gay teenager in a conversative town to become the leader she is today. And, how her lived experiences led her to embrace her authentic self in life and in work. Dr. Emily Drabant Conley is the CEO of Federation Bio. Previously, Dr. Conley spent over a decade at 23andMe, where she helped scale the company from 30 employees into the world’s leading platform for genetic-driven drug discovery. As Vice President of Business Development at 23andMe, she architected visionary partnerships across pharma and biotech. ​Dr. Conley currently serves on the boards of Federation Bio, TMRW, Medrio and formerly served on the boards of Lesbians Who Tech and the UCSF Alliance Health Project. In this episode, Dr. Conley shares how to move forward through fear, why it’s important to believe in yourself as a leader and why you should always hire people smarter than you. 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 Dr. Conley. Highlights: [03:01] Dr. Conley’s career journey [07:40] You can be anything you want to be [10:29] Moving forward through fear [12:59] Making the decision to leave academia [16:02] Get comfortable with learning on the job [18:53] Hire people smarter than you [22:52] Cultivating instrumental relationships [26:21] Learning from failure [29:44] How genetic testing created dialogue around DEI [32:55] How to get in touch with Dr. Conley [33:15] Final words of wisdom from Dr. Conley Quotes: “Leaders who hire people smarter than them will have a thriving group who can achieve great things.” – Dr. Emily Drabant Conley “You can learn from others just by watching them, how they run meetings, how they communicate.” – Dr. Emily Drabant Conley “Doing the work on yourself personally is essential to being a good leader.” - Dr. Emily Drabant Conley About Dr. Emily Drabant Conley: Dr. Emily Drabant Conley is Chief Executive Officer of Federation Bio. Previously, Dr. Conley spent over a decade at 23andMe, where she helped scale the company from 30 employees into the world’s leading platform for genetic-driven drug discovery. As Vice President of Business Development at 23andMe, she architected visionary partnerships across pharma and biotech. ​Dr. Conley currently serves on the boards of Federation Bio, TMRW and Medrio and formerly served on the boards of Lesbians Who Tech and the UCSF Alliance Health Project. In 2019, Dr. Conley was named one of Business Insider’s 30 Leaders Under 40 who are transforming U.S. healthcare and in 2020 she was honored by Google Ventures as one of the 25 women shaping the future of technology. Dr. Conley spent 10 years in academia conducting genetics research. She was a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health and is co-author on more than 35 academic publications. She received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Stanford University School of Medicine, where she held fellowships from the National Science Foundation and Department of Defense. She graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a B.A. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-drabant-conley/ Website: https://www.federation.bio/

Do you have clarity on what makes you valuable in the marketplace? Do your competencies align with what is in demand? According to a report from McKinsey & Company, by 2030, more than 800 million people will lose their jobs to automation. Could some of your tasks be easily automated? What percentage of your role might be automated in the future? In this day and age, it is important to understand what is growing in demand so that you can learn the skills and competencies needed for the future. In this episode, you’ll learn how to keep track of market demand so you can position yourself in line with it. Highlights: [01:08] The effects of automation on the workforce [03:58] The shelf life of skills is getting shorter [04:34] Focus on solving business problems [06:55] Learning to run two races at the same time [07:32] Hacks to identify future demand [14:26] Homework for the week Quotes: “Digital transformation is unlocking organizations and making them faster, more efficient, more innovative, and ultimately creating more value for their customers.” – Nikki Barua “You have to know exactly what is in demand so that you can develop the right skills.” – Nikki Barua “Focus on solving a business problem and doing it in the fastest, most elegant, most effective way.” – Nikki Barua “You have to run two races at the same time: be great at what you’re doing today, while mastering the skills to be great at what you’ll be doing tomorrow.” – Nikki Barua “Your future is truly in your hands and you must start making changes today.” – 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