BEYOND BARRIERS

Have you struggled with advancing your career and don't know what steps to take? Do you feel stuck and don't know who to turn to for help? In this episode, you'll meet 4 extraordinary women who share their stories of transformation and how their peer community helped them go beyond barriers. Each of them overcame fears and limiting beliefs, gained confidence and conviction in their purpose, and are on a mission to create impact in the world. Highlights: [01:06] About Bella Mokua [01:21] About Dominique Piñon [01:38] About Jenean Glover [01:54] About Jessica Medrano [02:07] Impact of the pandemic [05:44] Bella: Commitment to your true north [07:56] Dominique: Putting yourself first guilt-free [10:44] Jenean: Learning to adapt and pivot [15:44] Jessica: Always believing in yourself [20:50] Jessica: Don't wait for perfection [23:19] Dominique: Create your own narrative [27:11] Bella: Feel the fear and do it anyway [30:35] Jenean: Mentorship, sponsorship and championship [34:43] What's holding back women in the workplace [45:10] Habits and hacks to accelerate success Quotes: "Own your experiences and believe that you are good enough to be successful." – Bella Mokua "The power of community is out there, you just have to look for it. And sometimes you have to be proactive in building it." – Monica Marquez "The Beyond Barriers program normalized failing and normalized success and normalized the concept that if we're failing it's because we're pushing our boundaries." – Dominique Piñon "The Beyond Barriers program taught me the art of the pivot. To embrace the pivot, not fear change and make the appropriate move at the appropriate time." – Jenean Glover "The Beyond Barriers program helped me identify my strengths and lead with them. Now I can focus on the work at hand, motivate others and help create change." – Jessica Medrano "Conditions are never going to be perfect in every area, but you still need to move forward and work with the conditions that you do have." – Jessica Medrano "What I wish I had known sooner was feeling the fear and doing it anyway." – Bella Mokua "Don't talk yourself out of opportunities. Let them tell you no." – Bella Mokua "You don't have to be good at everything to be enough. You're enough as you are. Remind yourself of that daily." – Bella Mokua "Create your own narrative and actualize yourself. No one's going to actualize things for you." - Dominique Piñon "It is equally as powerful when we have allies that share our stories in addition to crafting our own narrative." - Jenean Glover "Nothing can grow if you don't nourish your own soil." - Bella Mokua "After making your list of what you need to be better, make sure you look around and be grateful for what you have now." – Jessica Medrano About Podcast Guests: Bella Mokua Jenean Glover Jessica Medrano Dominique Piñon 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

Much has been researched and written about the lack of women in the tech sector, whether it's representation at major tech companies, as start-up founders, or as investors. What can be done to make the tech world a more inclusive space for women? In this episode, we feature Kate Brodock, CEO at Women 2.0 and Founding Partner of W Fund. Kate has played an active leadership role in the women in tech ecosystem for over a decade. She led a global organization focused on women in technology and entrepreneurship as its President for several years. She is passionate about applying her experience to advising and mentoring startups whether as an EIR at LaunchNY, or a mentor for Techstars. As CEO of Women 2.0, Kate is focused on bringing diversity and inclusion in the tech and startup spaces. Women 2.0 provides resources for founders and professionals to grow their companies and careers, as well as provide products for workplaces and the startup ecosystem to create inclusive environments that support the advancement of women and other underrepresented groups. And now with the launch of the W Fund, Kate is on a mission to fuel the startup ecosystem and deploy funds to women and diverse-led tech startups. Kate highlights some of the challenges women face, the perceptions that need to be changed and the work that's being done to help to promote women in tech. Kate shares her perspective on the gender gap and how to build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive world. Highlights: [02:50] Kate's journey [07:58] Kate's vision for Women 2.0 [11:52] Challenges that women face in the workplace [13:11] Why is mobilization important for women [15:18] The importance of the W Fund [18:29] Facing your fears and overcoming limiting beliefs [25:15] Nurturing and building your community [33:48] The fundraising process [42:46] Kate's success habit Quotes: "Mobilization is important because it is the difference between going so low against all of these hurdles and actually having a peer network." – Kate Brodock "List out your negative thoughts about yourself and then talk yourself out of each one of them." – Kate Brodock "Think of asking for advice and help as a learning opportunity and a growth opportunity." – Kate Brodock "Before asking for help, frame the specific problem or question and then identify those whose support you need." – Kate Brodock "Put structures in place to fight the apply, apply, apply instinct. The best results will come when strategic planning happens first."- Kate Brodock About Kate Brodock Kate is CEO of Women 2.0 and Founding Partner of W Fund . She's lived in the tech startup world for over 15 years, and has played an active leadership role in the women in tech ecosystem for over a decade, having led a global organization focused on women in technology and entrepreneurship as its President for several years. She's also an EIR at LaunchNY , and a long-time mentor for Techstars. She enjoys putting her 15-year experience in the tech industry to work advising and mentoring startups. She was recently CMO of untapt , an AI-driven tech talent marketplace based in NYC and has held the role of Adjunct Professor in PR and Marketing at Syracuse University. Kate has spoken at and been featured in numerous places, including SXSWi, Collision Conference, Fast Company's Innovation Uncensored, IBT, MSNBC, TechCrunch and Al Jazeera America and writes for Forbes. She has a BA from the University of Rochester, an MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University and an MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. When she's not doing all *that*, she's a very non-professional (but adventurous!) athlete, an equally as non-professional musician, can be found outdoors in any weather — skiing, biking, hiking, sailing — loves a good meal with bubbly, craft beer and good friends, hilariousness and life. She tries hard to read when she can, non-fiction only. Her husband is a startup-web-developer-turned-beer-guy and they now live on a hops farm in Upstate, NY. She can be found on Twitter at @ just_kate. Links: Website: http://women2.com W2.0 Team: https://women2.com/team LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/katebrodock Twitter: https://twitter.com/Just_Kate

Thank you for listening in. We are truly grateful for your comments, feedback and advocacy. Thanks to you we are a highly rated show and our global community is growing rapidly. If you haven't subscribed yet, tell us what we can do to earn your support. If you have already, please rate us (we love 5 stars). And, if you've already done both, tell a friend about this show. In this episode, we'll discuss a topic many of us are feeling – burnout. We'll share how you can detect burnout and what you can do to regain your balance, and feel healthy and hopeful again. Highlights: [01:17] What is burnout [06:36] Stress vs burnout [07:41] Job-related burnout [08:36] Work-life balance during a pandemic [11:06] The susceptibility of burnout for perfectionists [14:30] Pay attention to the signs of burnout [15:20] The impact of the pandemic on mental health [16:41] Steps to take to avoid burnout Quotes: "Burnout is when you feel empty, mentally exhausted, like you've just got absolutely nothing left to give, that's when you've lost your motivation." – Nikki Barua "Perfectionist often times feel the need to be in control of everything. This leaves them highly susceptible to burnout." – Monica Marquez "When sabotage seems like your best escape route. That's an urgent cry and a sign that you need self-care." – Nikki Barua "Incorporate play into your daily schedule. Being in a playful state has the ability to heal chronic stress and burnout." – Nikki Barua "When you feel grateful for family, health or safety, you're going to shift your focus from what you don't have to what you're blessed to have." – 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

Thank you for listening in. We are truly grateful for your comments, feedback and advocacy. Thanks to you we are a highly rated show and our global community is growing rapidly. If you haven't subscribed yet, tell us what we can do to earn your support. If you have already, please rate us (we love 5 stars). And, if you've already done both, tell a friend about this show. Where do you invest your time, energy, and money? In this episode, we'll discuss the best investment you can make in your lifetime. And no, we are not giving advice on how to manage your finances or hot tips on the stock market. This is a different kind of investment. It has a guaranteed return. It grows exponentially over time. And it's the one investment no one can take away from you. Highlights: [01:30] The best investment you can make [05:00] Make it a habit [07:00] When to upgrade yourself [10:59] You are worthy of the investment [12:45] Take control of your career development [15:00] Best way to aspire to success Quotes: "The best investment you can ever make in your life, whether it's time, money or energy, is in bettering ourselves. It has guaranteed results." – Nikki Barua "Ask yourself what is the next level of learned competency for professional development that you need and how you do you get it." – Nikki Barua "Be intentional in seeking out learning for professional development." – Nikki Barua "You are worthy of the time, care, and attention to focus on yourself." – Nikki Barua "There is a misconception that your company is responsible for your career development." – Monica Marquez "The ultimate job security isn't being good at your job today, it's being highly capable and qualified to do your job tomorrow." – Nikki Barua "The easiest way to be successful is to find the people who you want to be like and look at what they do, not what they have." 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

People are feeling overwhelmed with work and family responsibilities, while facing health risks and economic uncertainty. As our world goes through transformative change, organizations are faced with new challenges in creating safe spaces for connection. Employee Resource Groups play a vital role in fostering a sense of belonging, and building an inclusive and innovative culture. In today's episode, we'll discuss why ERG communities matters when you're faced with challenges and how you can get the support you need. Highlights: [01:58] ERGs – what are they and why they exist [04:18] The impact of ERGs on your career [07:39] Getting the support you need [09:41] What if your company doesn't have an ERG [12:19] What you can be doing to support others [14:05] The role of an ERG leader [15:56] How to align ERGs to business vision [18:26] Recommendations for new ERG leaders Quotes: "ERG leaders have the ability to create safe spaces for their communities and help them thrive." – Monica Marquez "By raising your hand to advance the impact of ERG's, you will demonstrate your leadership and be the light that can guide other people." – Nikki Barua "As a new ERG leader, you need to listen, learn and find out what your community needs, what support do they need to bring their whole selves to work everyday." – 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

We're asking for your help. Please subscribe and rate the show (we love 5 stars)! Have you ever been in a situation where you NEEDED help but didn't feel comfortable asking for it? Well, you are not alone. This is an area that a lot of women struggle with. Even though we may be comfortable asking for help on personal matters, we often don't like to ask for help when it comes to our career goals. In today's episode, we'll share how to get comfortable ASKING and GETTING the help you deserve. Highlights: [01:04] Nikki's perspective on asking for help [03:53] Asking for help in the corporate environment [05:34] Our fears in asking for help [06:31] Unburden yourself and gain leverage [08:18] People want to help [09:52] How to ask for help [12:52] Three steps to asking for help Quotes: "There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women." – Madeleine Albright "When you don't ask for help, you're taking the slower path to success." – Nikki Barua "Instead of fighting your battle alone, make it everyone's war to win." – Nikki Barua "If you're uncomfortable asking for help, ask for advice instead." – Nikki Barua "If you're burning the candle at both ends, and you're not asking for help, at some point you're going to run out of candles." – Monica Marquez About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Learn more at 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. Learn more at 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

Ok, it's the first week of July and we have 6 more months until the end of the year! Despite all of the chaos we've experienced in the first half of the year, let's make today our new beginning! Over the next few weeks, we are going to address many of the common questions we get regarding, "How to jumpstart, reset, re-energize momentum and get past barriers to career success". In today's episode, we'll share practical tips for you to implement -so you can take action and gain momentum in the second half of 2020. Highlights: [01:20] Overcoming obstacles & recovering from setbacks [04:17] How to bounce back quickly [06:38] The new year mindset shift [11:20] Focus on the present [14:00] 5-Day Job Search and Interview Prep Challenge Quotes: "Pessism does not contribute to your ability to be creative and resourceful in coming up with the best solutions. " – Nikki Barua "By taking the smallest of steps, one step after the next, momentum builds up and that's how you ultimately achieve your goals." – Nikki Barua "Focus on the present, because the past is gone, and the future has not arrived yet. Focusing on the past and worrying about the future depletes your energy and distracts your focus." – Nikki Barua Link to 5-Day Challenge: https://www.beyondbarriersacademy.com/5-day-challenge About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Learn more at 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. Learn more at 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

Can you believe that we are in the month of July!? What a year 2020 has turned out to be (and we are only halfway through it...we still have 6 more months to go)! Did you kick off this year with big dreams and aspirations, only to be faced with unexpected obstacles? In today's episode, we'll share practical tips for you to implement - so you can take action and gain momentum in the second half of 2020. Highlights: [01:09] Nikki's first half of 2020 [03:28] The 5 step framework to momentum [06:16] Breaking down a big problem into smaller chunks [07:17] Develop the skills to weather any storm [08:16] 5-Day Challenge Quotes: "There will always be obstacles. The 5 step Beyond Barriers framework gives you the methodology to develop the strategies and skills to overcome those obstacles. " – Nikki Barua "If you want change, you have to make the decision and take massive action." – Monica Marquez "Break a big problem into smaller bite-sized chunks. This will make you feel more in control, give you a greater degree of certainty, and help you take action." – Nikki Barua "Results will come when you make the commitment and invest in yourself." – Nikki Barua About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Learn more at 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. Learn more at 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 have a career related question that you're uncomfortable asking your peers, managers or mentors? We're here to address your questions. The fear of being perceived as inadequate prevents us from asking –but it causes us to pay a high price in every aspect of our lives—in lost income, slower career progress, LIMITED access to leadership roles and potential risk to well-being. So, learn to ask –and start by asking us. Many of our listeners have asked what we wish we had known before taking a role in management. So, in this episode, we discuss the lessons we've learned when transitioning from an individual contributor to a manager. Highlights: [01:21] Management theory versus practice [03:04] Transitioning from individual contributor to manager [06:03] How to delegate effectively [07:56] Right amount of oversight when delegating [11:56] Letting go of being liked [13:46] Be responsible for your team [17:31] How to have effective meetings Quotes: "As a manager, you want to make sure that you're empowering your team and allowing them to bring their expertise, skills and competencies to the table, so that collectively, you can be effective in solving organizational challenges." – Nikki Barua "Have a mindset of constant succession planning. If you want to move up, the only way you can do that is if someone is ready, capable and willing to take your spot." – Nikki Barua "The key to delegation is to learn how to let go, while remaining accountable, and giving the other person the opportunity to figure out how to do it their way and develop the competency." – Nikki Barua "As a manager, you are responsible for your team and setting them up for success." – Monica Marquez "Don't aspire to be liked. Focus on being trusted and respected and leading with the right decisions for the organization and for the people." – Nikki Barua About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Learn more at 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. Learn more at 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 have a career related question that you're uncomfortable asking your peers, managers or mentors? We're here to address your questions. Our fear of being perceived as inadequate prevents us from asking –but it causes us to pay a high price in every aspect of our lives—in lost income, slower career progress, LIMITED access to leadership roles and potential risk to well-being. So, learn to ask –and start by asking us. In this episode, we are going to address a question we get from many of our listeners. "How do I negotiate?" Highlights: [01:10] Always negotiate [02:23] Statistics on negotiating [04:15] Impact of not negotiating [05:35] Nikki shares negotiation tips [06:07] Myths about negotiation [14:42] Share your questions Quotes: "Don't think of negotiating in terms of salary. Think of it in terms of anything that you value and that could be PTO, education, eligibility for promotion." – Nikki Barua "Myth # 1 about negotiation is that it is about conflict, it isn't. You need to reframe negotiation to be about discovery and alignment." – Nikki Barua "Negotiation is about establishing a long term win-win outcome." – Nikki Barua "Negotiation is not about money, it is about value exchange." – Nikki Barua About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Learn more at 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. Learn more at 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