BEYOND BARRIERS

What if your biggest opportunity was also your biggest challenge? Would you go for it? Carina Edwards, CEO of Quil, shares why it's so important to be guided by your true north, and how to make sound decisions about your life and career. Carina is an inspiring leader who embodies grace under fire. As CEO of Quil, a digital health company, Carina is leading her organization to revolutionize healthcare by empowering patients and their care providers to have ownership of their healthcare journeys. In this episode, Carina shares how she discovered her purpose, and what drives her to make a positive difference in people's lives every day. Carina also provides guidance on navigating effectively through an unexpected crisis, and what it takes to lead with courage and conviction. Highlights: [02:21] Carina's story [04:36] The evolution of leadership [08:24] Switching lanes and leveling up effectively [11:09] Transitioning to leadership and what it takes to be successful [14:11] What I wish I had known earlier in my career [15:56] Taking the leap with confidence [18:56] The mission of Quil Health [21:27] Leading through crisis - COVID pandemic [25:10] Post-pandemic – the birth of new innovations [28:40] How to navigate through difficult times [30:03] Daily habit to keep yourself grounded [31:58] Gravitas in remote collaboration [34:30] Advice to get future-ready Quotes: "If you don't deliver value, and you don't deliver results, you can't drive top line growth." – Carina Edwards "Always finish what you start and deliver results. Then be curious about the next thing that can truly deliver value and enhance your career." – Carina Edwards "Before you can lead through crisis, you have to first ground yourself in being the most authentic version of yourself." – Carina Edwards "Don't let the crisis pivot you from your true north." – Carina Edwards "New innovation needs to be grounded in delivering value." – Carina Edwards "If you don't get close to your customers and understand how they're going to be impacted, then you don't know how you're going to be able to help them." – Carina Edwards "Always bring your authentic self to both your personal life and your professional life." – Carina Edwards About Carina Edwards: Carina Edwards is the CEO of Quil, the joint venture between Comcast NBCUniversal and Independence Blue Cross aimed at empowering patients and their support teams to answer "What Happens Next?" on their healthcare journeys. Quil's digital health companion empowers users with step-by-step, personalized directions, prescribed by their doctor, from the first point of intervention through recovery delivering information where and when they need it, on their smartphone, computer, and TV. Prior to joining Quil, Carina served in executive positions at Imprivata, Nuance, Zynx Health, and Philips Healthcare. In 2016, she was appointed to the board of directors of CHIME (The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives). In 2019, she was named by Becker's Healthcare as "Female Health IT Leaders to Know." Carina received her MBA from Boston College and her BS in MIS & Decision Sciences from George Mason University. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carina-edwards-aa0731/ Twitter: @cedwardski Twitter: @quilhealth Website: https://quilhealth.com/

Welcome to the Beyond Barriers Habits & Hacks Show! Have you ever wondered what is that one thing that you can be great at? It's what you become known for – and what differentiates you. Well that's exactly what we're going to help you with on today's show, where you'll learn how to gain clarity on your skills and competencies with powerful habits and hacks. When you have clarity on what makes you outstanding in your career, you can align what you do to exactly that competency. That way you can continue to hone it over time and become great at it. Don't waste time focusing on your weaknesses. Delegate or outsource those things. When you try to work on your weaknesses, you become mediocre at best. Double down on the strengths, you are naturally talented at or love doing versus trying to get better at something that is not a natural gift and You'll become great at those things. That's how you accelerate your success! Highlights: [01:01] The difference between skills and competencies [02:48] Transferrable skills and competencies [03:27] Articulate your competencies, not just your skills [07:19] How to gain clarity on competencies and unique skills [09:22] Homework for the week Quotes: "Tell a story of your competencies that translates well into your new situation, whether it's a promotion or new role." – Nikki Barua "Your career trajectory follows your competency development. As long as you're leveling up in competencies, you will keep rising up." – Nikki Barua "Don't focus on the weaknesses, focus on the competencies that come naturally to you, because you will become excellent at those." – Monica Marquez "When you work on your weaknesses, you become mediocre. But when you double down on your strengths, you become great." – Nikki Barua About Nikki and Monica: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Contact Nikki and Monica: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iambeyondbarriers/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyondbarriersco/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambeyondbarriers/

Do you have a network of friends or colleagues but don't like asking them for help? Have you ever wanted to get access to influential leaders but didn't know how? In this episode, you'll learn how to tap into the resources within your network with powerful habits and hacks. Instead of keeping your head down and doing the work, learn how to gain leverage through proximity. Career success – whether in corporate or entrepreneurial – is accelerated when you have access to the right resources and relationships. A common misperception about networks is that it's about taking from others. That's why so many women struggle with tapping into their networks because they don't want to be a burden or feel awkward about asking for help. The truth is your network is built by giving –the more you give, the more your tribe grows. You receive a fraction of the value you create. So if you're not getting the value you want, focus on the value you need to create for others. When you focus on how you can help others, rather than think about how they can help you, you are able to create value for them. Highlights: [01:06] Power of proximity [04:34] The perspective of abundance [07:40] How to build a strong community [09:32] Homework for the week Quotes: "If you have a gift to give, then give to as many people as you can." – Nikki Barua "Think of your network, not as something you can take from, but rather something you give to." – Nikki Barua "It's not about a network. It's simply a relationship and relationships are built on shared values, trust and respect." – Nikki Barua "Make a list of 10 people within your reach that you want to get to know." – Nikki Barua About Nikki and Monica: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Contact Nikki and Monica: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iambeyondbarriers/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyondbarriersco/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambeyondbarriers/

Are you frustrated with self-doubt and tired of living small? In this episode, Saren Stiegel, shares with us how to develop strength and confidence and go from living small and fearful, to living big and free. Saren Stiegel is the People + Culture Officer for tech startup generator, ELEV^TE. Named Business Relationship Alliance's 2019 "Visionary Woman of the Year," Saren is also the best-selling author of The Glow Effect. Since its founding in 2013, the Glow Effect social enterprise has worked with over 20,000 people in 32 countries to grow their leadership impact. Saren has been featured in Real Simple, Fox News, and Entrepreneur. Saren shares her personal journey from being a divorce attorney to becoming a conscious culture advocate who helps individuals and organizations maximize their human and team potential. She presents actionable advice on how to pursue your passion and build your legacy with continuous learning and persistence. Highlights: [02:26] Saren's journey [07:49] Discovering your unique strength [09:13] Sales is a numbers game [12:37] Approaching fear with humility [14:19] Building partnerships [18:07] Courageous conversations [20:34] Persistency and flow [22:50] Being successful in the digital age [25:27] Focus on right thing at the right time [30:22] Key to accelerating success in the future of work [33:34] Diversity of thought Quotes: "It's not about me getting the courage to ask. It's about reframing it in a way that we can get this done together." – Saren Stiegel "When I walked into a room of women, I didn't see them as a network, I saw them as people who I can do cool things with." – Saren Stiegel "The goal is to distribute power more equally to make everyone feel that they belong." – Saren Stiegel "Your personal brand is your purpose." – Saren Stiegel "The top of the triangle is your idea. You need to have a novel idea but supporting that novel idea, is expertise and experience." – Saren Stiegel "Iteration and constantly willing to communicate and give feedback and be humble and, and learn, learn, learn, and increase your awareness. That's the future." – Saren Stiegel "The openness and the willingness to consider and think about that diversity of thought in all of our business strategizing, is the infinite game." – Saren Stiegel "If your goal is constant betterment and constant improvement and going beyond barriers, then it's okay to not know and keep going and to just know that you're consciously learning." -Saren Stiegel About Saren Stiegel: Saren Stiegel is the Founder of The Glow Effect, which delivers learner-centered training contents to nurture high performance. She is also an author, activist, speaker, social entrepreneur, and people and culture officer at ELEV^TE. Saren was named "Visionary Woman of the Year" by Business Relationship Alliance 2019. As an internationally recognized thought leader, Saren made herself a vehicle to empower women to rise as revolutionary female leaders. Among her expertise are leadership coaching, diversity and inclusion employee engagement and organizational consulting. She works with individuals and organizations to leverage their strengths and hone qualities that create a profound social impact. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarenstiegel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGlowEffect/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGlowEffect Twitter: https://twitter.com/youaretheglow

Have you ever felt overwhelmed and struggled to balance competing priorities? You can't focus on one thing if you're constantly worried about something else. Well, you are not alone. Did you know that human attention span is now less than a goldfish! In this episode, we bust the myth of multitasking, how you lose focus when you switch, and why discipline gives you freedom from stress and anxiety. Tune in to learn how to establish daily rituals with powerful habits and hacks. Highlights: [01:45] How to remove distractions [03:47] Favorite hack # 1 [04:51] Favorite hack # 2 [06:52] Nikki's all-time favorite hack [09:47] Homework for the week Quotes: "When you know that what you're focusing on right now is exactly the right thing to do at that point in time, you can avoid the distraction." – Nikki Barua "Discipline is what creates freedom." – Nikki Barua "Setting aside time in the morning for yourself to think about your day ahead gives you the power to decide how do you want to invest your time and your energy for that day." – Nikki Barua "Don't pick up your phone the minute you wake up. Instead start your day with a ritual that is meaningful and nourishing to your mind, body and soul."- Nikki Barua "Recognizing and rewarding yourself is a great way to not only acknowledge your accomplishments, but to celebrate progress." – Nikki Barua About Nikki and Monica: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Contact Nikki and Monica: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iambeyondbarriers/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyondbarriersco/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambeyondbarriers/

When it comes to professional networking, we all know that LinkedIn is the place to be. But do you feel lost when it comes to presenting yourself or your business? Are you missing out on opportunities because you just don't know what to post or how to network online? On today's episode, Jennifer Corcoran shares how professionals and entrepreneurs can stand out and become super connectors on LinkedIn. Jennifer is an award-winning social media influencer and the founder of My Super Connector – a LinkedIn Training & Consultancy firm. As someone who has worked through shyness and introversion, Jennifer knows first-hand that confidence and networking skills can be learned and honed. Jennifer uses her experience to help others overcome confidence gaps and achieve sustained visibility and success online. In this episode, Jennifer gives expert tips on the best way to network on LinkedIn. She proves that you don't need to be the loudest person in the room to get noticed. She shares do's and don'ts so you can stand out professionally. You'll learn how to set up your professional profile, highlight your unique competency, and get noticed by your target audience. Highlights: [02:11] Jennifer's LinkedIn superpower [03:45] More to LinkedIn than the home feed [12:29] LinkedIn premium versus free version [17:29] Designing your profile page [21:02] LinkedIn headline is your introduction [23:59] Highlighting your competencies [26:46] LinkedIn posts vs. articles [29:22] Engaging with your community [30:38] Thriving in the digital age Quotes: "Too many people compare themselves to others, they get a bit of imposter syndrome. I think when you just start to be you and you are authentic, then it is actually easy." – Jennifer Corcoran "Focus on increasing your LinkedIn recommendations. Think of it like TripAdvisor, when you want to book a hotel, you look up reviews." – Jennifer Corcoran "Applying for a job? Review the job description and use some of the keywords in your profile." – Jennifer Corcoran "When people are on the LinkedIn app on their phone, they're going to judge you on the cover banner, your headshot and the headline, and they're going to decide if they're bothered to read on about you. And I think if you don't grab them within those few seconds and make an impact, they're not going to read on." – Jennifer Corcoran "When you are consistent, people will start to trust you, you will get the know, like, and trust factor." – Jennifer Corcoran "Adopt the 80/20 rule, 80% of the time, when you are posting, it's all about inspiring, educating, motivating, giving value. And then the 20% is about you." – Jennifer Corcoran About Jennifer Corcoran: As an award-winning social media influencer, Jennifer Corcoran knows a thing or two about leaving her comfort zone behind. She uses her experience to help others achieve sustained visibility and success. Too many of us feel lost when it comes to selling ourselves or our businesses online. Jennifer's mission is to help entrepreneurs, individuals and businesses stand out on LinkedIn. Her business, My Super Connector, proves that you don't need to be the loudest person in the room to get noticed. While working in The City as an Executive PA, Jennifer used social media to elevate her reputation. This helped her win regional, national and global awards. A back injury cut her City career short but led Jennifer to find her true calling –as a LinkedIn trainer and networking adviser. Jennifer is more than a skilled social media scheduler or self-pronounced "Expert". Her talent and hard work is evident in her list of qualifications and awards. As a Pitman-accredited LinkedIn trainer, she has qualified in LinkedIn and Social media for business. Her expertise is evident in her list of prestigious awards such as Social Media Influencer of the Year in the Venus Awards. She has also been spotlighted in national campaigns such as F-Entrepreneur. Jennifer's clients include London South Bank University, London Chamber of Commerce, Exeter College, the FSB and Enterprise Nation. Her work has been featured in many publications and websites including The Guardian, BrightTALK, Grow Exeter and LBC. Learn more about Jennifer and her work at MySuperConnector.co.uk. Links: Website: https://mysuperconnector.co.uk/ Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifercorcoran1/ LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13618082/ LinkedIn Company Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-super-connector Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysuperconnector/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/superconnector Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysuperconnector/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/superconnector/ Free Access to 'How to Master Your Visibility on LinkedIn' and BrandMe! 2020 Visibility Summit (valid until March 23rd ): https://visibility-summit-2020.heysummit.com/tickets/?coupon=VIPAccess

In this episode, senior corporate leader and diversity expert, Monica Marquez joins the show. Throughout her career, Monica has pioneered industry-leading programs to help the disadvantaged gain breakthrough access to opportunities. Monica decided that anytime an opportunity presented itself, she would take it, even if she struggled with self-doubt and fear. That led her to transitioning from academia to corporate and eventually to her entrepreneurial journey. You must focus on learning and growing and not let fear hold you back from taking on new opportunities. Gender challenges are global. The biggest challenge we see for women is a lack of representation at the senior levels. There is a drop-off in mid-career where women do not get to a certain level of promotion. Some women choose to take a career break, which will take them on a more scenic route to the top. There is a lack of support systems in the junior level. Women tend not to raise their hand and take more glamorous roles in an organization. They shy away from a more visible role. However, visibility will help women catapult in their careers. Stay tuned to hear Monica reveal the top three things that helped her succeed, the future of work, and the importance of community. Highlights: [01:00] About Monica Marquez [03:35] Transitioning from academia to corporate [07:30] Entering the technology world [11:15] Challenges that affect women in the workplace [15:45] What Monica is most proud of in her career [19:30] The top three things that helped Monica succeed [22:45] The future of work [27:20] Final advice from Monica Quotes: "Don't let an opportunity pass you by just because you don't know everything yet." – Monica Marquez "Each organization has its own unique culture. Immerse yourself in that culture, understand that culture, but most importantly, identify how success is defined in that particular culture." – Monica Marquez "Sometimes people have this habit of coming in and then wanting to figure it out themselves or being afraid to ask. I learned really quickly to get over the fear of asking questions." – Monica Marquez "If an opportunity presents itself, take it, then figure out what are the resources, what are the things that you need to do." – Monica Marquez "If you don't have enough diverse individuals and people coming from looking at problems and solutions from a different perspective, you are not be as successful. Diversity of thought helps organizations level up quicker and faster." – Monica Marquez About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is a consciousness creator on a mission to champion equity for all in life, work and community. Throughout her career, Monica has pioneered industry-leading programs to help the disadvantaged gain breakthrough access to opportunities. She has led diversity and inclusion initiatives at some of the world's best companies such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Ernst & Young, and Google. As a young Latina growing up in a small West Texas town, Monica was the first in her family to go to graduate school and achieve significant professional success. Her experiences taught her that drive and determination alone are not enough – access to opportunities is essential for success. She became a relentless advocate for equity and is committed to rewriting the narrative for marginalized communities. As a former radio show host, Monica knows how to connect with people across all walks of life. She is an opera singer who can fill any void with melody. And as an aerial acrobat, she is determined to always find a way. Links: Website: www.themonicamarquez.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez Facebook: www.facebook.com/themonicamarquez Instagram: @themonicamarquez Twitter: @themmarquez

Have you ever wondered how to turn your obstacles into opportunities? In this episode, we talk about breaking through your barriers and owning your power. Serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, influencer, and international keynote speaker, Nikki Barua joins the show. Nikki came to America as an immigrant from India. She worked hard, learned the best strategies, and the right habits. She climbed to the top of the corporate ladder, quit her job, and started her own business. After facing numerous rejections and failures, she overcame the barriers and built up a multi-million dollar business. Her journey taught her that obstacles give us the opportunity to level-up and get stronger and bolder. How do you get the courage to make big moves? Nikki says we must have clarity about what we want and why we want it. That's what helps us take consistent action and then success becomes inevitable. Do not lose focus – it takes a lot of discipline and the right kind of mindset. Look at your failures as feedback. Keep trying new things until you figure out what works. Entrepreneurship isn't about building a business; it's a journey about self-awareness. You discover what you are truly made of and what's holding you back. Ultimately, you learn how to become the best version of yourself. The three big lessons Nikki learned in her entrepreneurial journey: 1. Focus. It all comes down to focusing on the right thing. 2. Leverage. It's hard to gain momentum without leverage. 3. Execution. It's about taking massive and consistent action. Stay tuned to hear Nikki speak about her habits for success, the most significant technology trends, and the top business skills that are growing in demand. Plus, Nikki reveals three things that have helped her succeed and what she's looking forward to in her career. Highlights: [01:00] About Nikki Barua [03:05] How to find courage in ourselves [04:30] Leaping into entrepreneurship [07:55] What it's like starting your own business [11:50] Habits are truly a superpower [18:30] The most significant trends in technology [22:20] Business skills that will be in demand [25:30] The top three things that helped Nikki succeed [27:10] What Nikki is most looking forward to in her career [30:20] Final advice from Nikki Quotes: "Our obstacles are the opportunity. Every time we face an obstacle, it's an opportunity for us to level up and get even stronger, even bolder, and even more of the best versions of ourselves." – Nikki Barua "The first step to courage is clarity. Part of what's holding us back is we're not really clear about what we want and why we want it." – Nikki Barua "I would regret never following my dream, much more than experiencing short term pain or loss." – Nikki Barua "Habits are truly a superpower. If you look at any successful person, they are all a product of great habits." – Nikki Barua "I'm actively choosing to make an investment of my time as opposed to expanding my time." – Nikki Barua "Whatever you're great at today, there isn't going to be a market for that tomorrow. You have to figure out how do you get ahead of the curve and disrupt yourself instead of being disrupted." – Nikki Barua About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a serial entrepreneur, international keynote speaker and bestselling author who is passionate about making the world more inclusive and innovative. Nikki leads Beyond Barriers, a global leadership platform that empowers women professionals with digital-age skills to accelerate success. Nikki has won numerous awards, including Entrepreneur of the Year by ACE, named as an EY North America Entrepreneurial Winning Woman, recognized as LA Woman of Influence by The Business Journals and Women of Entrepreneurship by LA Lakers and Comerica Bank. Her inspiring story of turning barriers into breakthroughs has been featured in national media including Fortune and Forbes. Links: Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua

Whether you are just getting started or hungry to get ahead, simply working hard is no longer enough to advance your career. You must keep learning new skills and adapt to a rapidly changing business landscape. If you are an ambitious woman who wants to dominate your career, then the Beyond Barriers podcast is for you. Discover why traditional career strategies are outdated, what skills are growing in demand, and how to stand up and stand out in the workplace. This podcast is co-hosted by Nikki Barua - Digital Innovator, Serial Entrepreneur, Author & Speaker. And Monica Marquez - ex-Googler, Diversity Expert and Senior Corporate Leader. As thought leaders in innovation and inclusion, we bring unique insights on career success and what it takes to turn your barriers into breakthroughs. In each episode, we interview C-level executives, industry influencers, and business leaders from top corporations. Listen to our guests share their perspectives on opportunities and challenges in the age of artificial intelligence, autonomy and authenticity. From inspiring stories to cutting-edge strategies, you'll learn how to develop the skillset, mindset and toolset to get future-ready fast and accelerate your success. Share comments and topic suggestions on https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com and we'll be sure to address them in future episodes. We'd love to hear from you! Links: Website: https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyondbarriersco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iambeyondbarriers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambeyondbarriers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/iBeyondBarriers