BEYOND BARRIERS

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Have you ever wondered how to address someone Hispanic or felt lost with the nuances of Latino/x culture? Do you say Hispanic, Latino, Latinx? When it comes to this Spanish speaking population, it is very tricky, and even counter-productive, to lump 62 million people and 20+ cultures into one collective group. In this episode, Monica will share insights and best practices to raise awareness of the rich cultural nuances within the Hispanic and Latino diaspora. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn to build a more inclusive workplace. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday and Wednesday.  Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and links.   Highlights: [01:50] What is Hispanic Heritage Month [05:01] The difference between Hispanic, Latino, or LatinX [09:50] Pew Research on use of Hispanic, Latino, and LatinX [13:47] Never judge a book by it’s cover [17:38] Teachable moments   Quotes: “This year’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is Esperanza, a celebration of Hispanic heritage and hope. And the theme invites us all to celebrate Hispanic heritage, but also reflect on the resiliency we have all shown over the course of the last 18 months, two years, over the decades, over the centuries.” – Monica Marquez “When someone asks you, what are you or where are you from? Let's use that as a teachable moment to create the awareness to let people know that we aren't just one big umbrella, share the uniqueness of who you are, where your ancestry came from.” – Monica Marquez    About Nikki Barua Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is a senior corporate leader, ex-Googler, and diversity expert. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez

What does career success look like? That can be a difficult question to answer if you haven’t stepped back to understand how to actually measure your success. Or understand what success looks like in the environment or organization to which you currently belong. Our guest, Indhira Arrington, Managing Director and Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Ares Management, shares with us the three critical things she identified to be present in all the successful people she encountered. Indhira describes success as 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. In her role at Ares, Indhira partners with the firm's DEI Council to advance Ares' strategy to attract, develop, engage and advance diverse talent within an inclusive, welcoming environment, along with advancing equity in the broader alternative asset management industry. She also serves as an advisor to support DEI initiatives at portfolio companies across Ares' investment strategies. In this episode, Indhira also shares her methodology for success, how to refine your executive presence, and why it’s important to cultivate your personal group of advocates and sponsors. 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 Indhira.   Highlights: [02:52] Indhira’s journey [10:56] Indhira’s methodology for success [15:01] Staying ahead of the curve [20:37] Managing your manager [28:23] How to gain sponsorship [30:35] The art of self-promotion [35:22] Cultivating your group of advocates [40:17] Always be in the service of others   Quotes: “I truly believe in the saying, ‘Good is the enemy of great.’ I don't want things to just be good enough. It’s helpful in some scenarios but good enough can also hurt you and others.” – Indhira Arrington “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 “Sponsorship is what's going to make a differential impact in your ability to move up within organizations.” – Indhira Arrington “It’s important to understand how your role impacts the broader strategy because once you know that you can start to expand that impact.” – Indhira Arrington “When you approach everything with the mindset of ‘how can you be in service to others’, the universe ensures that everything comes back two-fold for you.” - Indhira Arrington About Indhira Arrington: Mrs. Arrington is a Managing Director and Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ("DEI") Officer in the Ares Human Resources Department, and partners with the firm's DEI Council to advance Ares' strategy to attract, develop, engage and advance diverse talent within an inclusive, welcoming environment, along with advance equity in the broader alternative asset management industry. Mrs. Arrington also serves as an advisor to support DEI initiatives at portfolio companies across Ares' investment strategies. Prior to joining Ares in 2021, Mrs. Arrington served as a Senior Vice President and Head of Targeted Sourcing at Wells Fargo & Company, where she provided leadership in the strategic planning and execution of diversity sourcing initiatives and programs for the firm. Previously, Mrs. Arrington held several senior roles at The Bank of America Corporation within the Global Diversity and Inclusion Organization. In addition, she was an Equity Derivatives Sales Trader at Morgan Stanley. Mrs. Arrington began her career as a Financial Analyst at CIT Group. She serves on the Board of Directors of Poly Prep, the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families and the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP). Mrs. Arrington holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from Rutgers University in Economics and an M.B.A. from the New York University Stern School of Business. Mrs. Arrington is a Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellow, a Toigo Fellow and an INROADS alum. She is a Cornell University Certified Diversity Professional/Advanced Practitioner (CCDP/AP) and a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, Phi Beta Kappa, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), PRIMER Network and the Council of Urban Professionals. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/indhiraarrington/

When it comes to your career progression, are you actively “leaning in” to create impact and making a difference or are you passively leaning back in your seat, letting opportunities slip passed you? You may be familiar with Sheryl Sandberg’s book, “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead”, where she shares her perspective on what women need to do to move up in the business world, which is: to press ahead, to project confidence, to "sit at the table" and physically lean in to make herself heard. Meet Anna Dapelo-Garcia, Founder & President of Lean In Latinas, who shares her story of wanting to pass on the lessons she learned to the younger generation of Latina women. After visiting the Lean In Organization’s website, she decided to click and create a “Circle”. And that is the beginning of Lean in Latinas and Anna’s journey of paying it forward. Anna Dapelo-Garcia is an Inclusion, Diversity and Health Equity Leader at Stanford Health Care. She is also the Founder and President of Lean In Latinas. Anna has received numerous awards over the years and in 2015, she became the Founder of Lean In Latinas and was appointed as a Regional Program Leader by LeanIn.Org. Anna was featured in The New York Times for her role in creating Lean In Latinas, now a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Anna has also been featured in Forbes, National Public Radio (NPR) and the Wall Street Journal. In this episode, Anna shares her story of bringing Lean in Latinas to life, why you should never turn down an opportunity, the importance of your personal brand, and the benefits of having diversity in mentorship. 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 Anna. Highlights: [02:54] Bringing Lean In Latinas to life [10:13] Never turn down an opportunity [13:22] Gaining clarity on your strengths [19:14] The importance of your personal brand [26:14] Seeking out feedback [32:13] Benefits of having diversity in mentorship [37:55] Anna’s advice to women on accelerating success Quotes: “Every day you have an opportunity to determine your brand and how you want to be remembered.” – Anna Dapelo-Garcia “Be loud and proud of who you are and how you contribute to the world.” – Anna Dapelo-Garcia “Constructive feedback is a great opportunity to hone in on your skills.” - Anna Dapelo-Garcia “Mentors are critical at every stage of your career, whether you are an emerging professional or a CEO.” - Anna Dapelo-Garcia “Confidence is a game changer. Once you get it, it’s like the sun came up.” - Anna Dapelo-Garcia About Anna Dapelo-Garcia: Anna Dapelo-Garcia is an Inclusion, Diversity and Health Equity Leader at Stanford Health Care. She is also the Founder and President of Lean In Latinas. Anna acquired a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts degree in management from Saint Mary’s College. In 2013 she was named as a Silicon Valley Business Journal Woman of Influence and graduated from the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute program. In 2017, she was named as the Woman of the Year by the Women’s Health Care Executives. She also served as a State Commissioner with the California State Senate for Cost Control in State Government. She was vice chair and board member for the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley and is currently serving as vice chair and board member for the University of San Francisco. In 2015, she became the Founder of Lean In Latinas and was appointed as a Regional Program Leader by LeanIn.Org. Anna was featured in The New York Times for her role in creating Lean In Latinas, now a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. In 2018, she received a Top Latino Leaders Award by the National Diversity Council in Los Angeles. In 2019, Anna was appointed by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to the Women’s Equality 2020 Leadership Council and in 2021 she was appointed to the Santa Clara County Hate Crimes Task Force. In March 2019, she was chosen by the Silicon Valley Business Journal for a Latino Leadership award. Anna has also been featured in Forbes, National Public Radio (NPR) and the Wall Street Journal. Links: Website: https://leaninlatinas.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-dapelo-garcia-927baa5/  

Do you shy away from experiences which require you to stand up and speak in front of a group? Do you break out in a cold sweat while making your way up to the stage to speak? In this episode, Nikki shares her first experience with public speaking and the fear that caused her to freeze on stage. She also shares the 3 “P”s to overcoming the fear public speaking. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday & Wednesday.    Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and links. Highlights: [01:04] Nikki’s first experience on stage [06:34] How Nikki overcame her fear of public speaking [08:56] Practice, practice, practice [15:12] Get clear on your WHY   Quotes: “You can’t get better at something if you don't invest time in it, and you can’t invest time in it, if you never schedule it.” – Nikki Barua “The best way to overcome your fear of public speaking is to practice by seeking opportunities to speak whenever you have the chance.” – Nikki Barua “To overcome your fear of public speaking you must practice the three “P”s - you need to prepare, you need to practice and you need to be patient.” – 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

Do you have executive presence? Did you know that it can be learned? According to Sylvia Ann Hewlett, 67% of your executive presence depends on gravitas, communication makes up 28% and appearance accounts for just 5%. In this episode, we share the 3 aspects of executive presence as taught by expert, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, as well as tips and strategies for you to gain executive presence and gravitas. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday and Wednesday.    Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and links. Highlights: [00:58] What is executive presence [01:06] Sylvia Ann Hewlett: 3 aspects of executive presence [07:24] How Nikki & Monica developed executive presence [12:29] Exhibiting executive presence remotely [14:22] Your choice of words matter Quotes: “90% of communication is how you deliver your message and 10% are the words you use to share your message.” – Monica Marquez “Being deliberate and thoughtful when you are speaking will help you develop executive presence.” – Nikki Barua “Your ability to signal preparedness to someone through your executive presence really comes down to creating a sense of certainty and inspiring confidence in the other person by how you show up.” – 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

What’s your story? Have you ever been asked that question during an interview and not known where to even begin? Telling stories about your professional self can inspire others’ belief in your character and in your ability to successfully take on new opportunities or make career transitions. It also can help you believe in yourself. Having a career story gives meaning to your career history; it will assure you that, in moving on to something new, you are not discarding everything you’ve worked so hard to accomplish. Unfortunately, research has shown that most of us fail to use the power of storytelling in pursuit of our professional goals, or we do it badly. Our guest, Ripa Rashid, Managing Director and Head of Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) at Cowen, shares her career story and why it is important to weave together your professional narrative and be able to clearly articulate your journey with clarity. Ripa is an internationally recognized subject matter expert and practitioner in the space of workplace diversity and inclusion, with a focus on gender, race and global talent engagement and development strategies.  Prior to joining Cowen, Ms. Rashid was Managing Director at Culture@Work, Working Mother Media and Bonnier’s strategic advisory and custom research group. Previously, she was co-president at the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) in New York City, a premier think tank and content provider that studies global workplace inclusion and diversity. She has also served as a management consultant with Booz & Company, PwC and Mitchell Madison Group, and has held senior diversity and inclusion positions at MetLife and Time Warner. In this episode, Ripa shares how her career has been guided by a desire for continuous growth and learning, why it is important to have allies and sponsors in your corner, and advice on how to stay ahead of the curve in the digital age. 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 Ripa. Highlights: [03:07] Ripa’s story [08:05] Articulating your journey with clarity [13:29] The importance of alliances and sponsorships [17:53] Leveraging your relationship & asking for help [23:31] Setting & achieving your goals [30:26] Staying ahead of the curve [33:51] Ripa’s decision-making framework [36:06] Advice to women in the workplace [39:19] Best way to connect with Ripa Quotes: “Approach everything with a learning and growth mindset.” – Ripa Rashid “Talent exists everywhere, opportunity does not. It's about creating access and opportunity.” – Ripa Rashid “If you live a life with fear, that means that you're not discovering anything.” - Ripa Rashid “There is no roadmap and no prescribed path for innovative work.” - Ripa Rashid About Ripa Rashid: Ripa Rashid is a Managing Director and Head of Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) at Cowen. Ms. Rashid is an internationally recognized subject matter expert and practitioner in the space of workplace diversity and inclusion, with a focus on gender, race and global talent engagement and development strategies.  Prior to joining Cowen, Ms. Rashid was Managing Director at Culture@Work, Working Mother Media and Bonnier’s strategic advisory and custom research group. Previously, she was co-president at the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) in New York City, a premier think tank and content provider that studies global workplace inclusion and diversity. She has also served as a management consultant with Booz & Company, PwC and Mitchell Madison Group, and has held senior diversity and inclusion positions at MetLife and Time Warner. Ms. Rashid holds an AB cum laude in astronomy and astrophysics from Harvard University, an MA in anthropology from New York University and an MBA from INSEAD. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riparashid/

Research shows that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill or craft. That’s why it’s so important that you’re clear on your passion so that you don’t expend that energy and time on something that you simply find boring. Honing your craft takes time, but first it takes awareness of what you love to do. In this episode, we’ll share why it’s important to have clarity on your passion, the steps to identifying your passion, and how to integrate your passion with your work. Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz Highlights: [01:18] What do you love to do? [03:05] Why it’s important to have clarity on your passion [04:41] Marrying your passion with your work [08:06] How Monica found her passion [10:54] The steps to identify your passion   Quotes: “If you want to be the best at something, you have to put in a long amount of time honing your craft.” – Nikki Barua “If your day job does not correlate with your passion, then effectively you're spending all your free time and all your mental energy in developing a competency in something and not getting paid for.” – 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

Have you ever been called obsessed, rebellious, or even hot blooded? Meet our guest, Sunny Bonnell, Co-Author of Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different. Witnessing an alarming lack of acceptance for unique people and “crazy” ideas that don’t fit the mold, Sunny co-authored Rare Breed as a manifesto for tearing up the rule book and succeeding on your own terms. In addition to Rare Breed, Sunny Bonnell and co-author Ashleigh Hansberger are also creators of Rare Breed, the popular YouTube series, and founders of the game-changing leadership and brand consultancy, Motto. Named Inc. 30 Under 30, GDUSA Top 25 People to Watch, Sunny and Ashleigh have been featured by Entrepreneur, Yahoo!, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, The Breakfast Club and hundreds more. They have earned their way to the front of a workplace revolution and have devoted their work to inspiring people to think with the Rare Breed Mindset and demand more of themselves, their careers, and their companies. In this episode, Sunny shares the vices for mavericks, oddballs, and visionaries and how there are two sides to each vice. She also shares highlights from her book, advice on shattering the glass ceiling, and why she lives by the mantra, “learn to succeed because of who you are, not despite who you are”. 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 Sunny. Highlights: [02:40] Sunny’s story [06:42] Building a branding agency [09:53] Pivotal moments in Rare Breed’s history [14:52] Highlights from the book Rare Breed [19:30] The two sides to our vices [24:06] What companies should be asking when looking for rare breeds [27:17] Which company has most embraced the rare breeds [30:23] Sunny’s advice to shattering glass ceilings [37:35] Sunny’s message to the world Quotes: “The leadership & mindset of a company affect culture and brand.” – Sunny Bonnell “Learn to succeed because of who you are, not despite who you are.” – Sunny Bonnell “Show up and make your presence known. Don't sit back with brilliant ideas and hold your tongue because you think you're going to get experience a negative consequence.” - Sunny Bonnell   About Sunny Bonnell: Sunny Bonnell and Ashleigh Hansberger inspire a new kind of leadership thinking which they share in their bold talks and unconventional book Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different. For over fifteen years at their leadership and brand consultancy, Motto, the dynamic duo have been teaching leaders how to dismantle business-as-usual using Rare Breed thinking to deviate from the norm and challenge the status quo. In their book, Sunny and Ashleigh help leaders and those who strive to be leaders, develop a Rare Breed Mindset®, a thought framework based on seven unconventional traits they’ve identified as the source of radical differentiation and power in business and life. It is this philosophy that has garnered the attention of clients like Google, Microsoft, the NFL, and Hershey’s. Witnessing an alarming lack of acceptance for unique people and “crazy” ideas that don’t fit the mold, Sunny and Ashleigh responded with their book, Rare Breed, which has become the go-to business manifesto for tearing up the rule book and succeeding on your own terms. In turn, the Rare Breed Mindset® builds stronger, more inspiring, and more innovative companies and teams. Not only do they speak, write, talk, and teach, Sunny and Ashleigh also consult virtually around the globe on how leaders can think, act, and innovate more like a Rare Breed amid the COVID disruption and cultural shifts. When not leading their team of Rare Breeds at Motto, they give inspiring keynotes where they share their audacious story of dropping out of college with $250 in their early twenties to found their award-winning consultancy, as well as provocative advice on how to turn doubt into determination, failure into fuel, and angst into ambition. They’ve been named Inc. 30 Under 30, GDUSA Top 25 People to Watch, and interviewed by Entrepreneur, Forbes, Yahoo!, Wall Street Journal, The Breakfast Club and hundreds more. They’ve also spoken at Dale Carnegie’s Exceed Culture, Fossil, Small Giants, Inc. GROWCO, The Dallas Society of Visual Communicators, Radio and Audio Summit to name a few.   Links: Website: https://rarebreedleaders.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rarebreedleaders https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnybonnell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rarebreedleaders/ https://www.instagram.com/sunnybonnell/  

“Doubt kills more dreams that failure ever will” ~ Suzy Kassem When an opportunity presents itself, do you feel a spark of excitement at first and then begin to realize the challenges that may come with it? Suddenly self-doubt creeps in and stops you from taking action. Our guest, Michelle Frymire, Chief Executive Officer of CWT, shares how taking on challenges and leaning into those tough assignments early in her career set the stage for her to advance. She has been guided by the motto: “it's not that we fall down, it's that we get back up”. Michelle Frymire is a senior executive with 30 years of experience in driving growth and transformation at both public and private companies worldwide. Michelle’s career reflects a demonstrated track record as a catalyst to successful execution of transformation, large scale growth - both organic and through M&A, the transition from private to public company through an IPO, and as a leader of successful transformation initiatives. Most notably, her experience in finance and strategy, and serving as a key strategic partner to boards and executive teams, combined with strong leadership and team building skills, has prepared organizations to make a global impact. In this episode, Michelle shares her story of rising to the top, how the best way to check all the boxes for a role is to accept the opportunity and learn in the role, and how success in scaling is directly correlated to an amazing team and great culture. 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 Michelle. Highlights: [02:50] Michelle’s story of rising to the top [04:35] Overcoming your fears [06:45] Gaining clarity on your career path [11:34] Trusting your instincts [14:01] Getting unstuck and taking action [17:46] Michelle’s superpower [19:52] Seize every opportunity [24:03] Navigating risk & uncertainty at scale [28:51] Staying true to your values [33:54] Creating your own personal board of directors [38:10] Cultivating new relationships [41:24] Biggest trends for the future [45:06] Staying ahead of the curve [47:43] Michelle’s message to women everywhere   Quotes: “Lean into those tough assignments that nobody else wants to do. There's always a chance that you fail, but that chance is real everywhere in life. Or you may succeed and have it lead to something really exciting.” – Michelle Frymire “Don't be afraid to seize an opportunity.” – Michelle Frymire “You're never 100% ready for that next role. The best way to really be ready is by doing it.” - Michelle Frymire “The single most important thing a CEO does is build and cultivate a great team and culture.”- Michelle Frymire “Peer relationships will make or break your career. They are the most important factor in how you're going to elevate yourself by their having confidence and trust in you.” - Michelle Frymire   About Michelle Frymire: Michelle Frymire is a senior executive with 30 years of experience in driving growth and transformation at both public and private companies worldwide. Michelle’s career reflects a demonstrated track record as a catalyst to successful execution of transformation, large scale growth - both organic and through M&A, the transition from private to public company through an IPO, and as a leader of successful transformation initiatives. Most notably, her experience in finance and strategy, and serving as a key strategic partner to boards and executive teams, combined with strong leadership and team building skills, has prepared organizations to make a global impact. Michelle currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for CWT, the world’s second largest corporate travel management company serving over 5,500 clients across 140+ countries around the world, including many of the Fortune 500 and the U.S. military and government. Michelle has played a key role in the company’s successful evolution to the world’s leading digital travel management company, and under her leadership the company is successfully navigating the impact of the global pandemic, both operationally and financially. Prior to CWT, she was the CFO and head of strategy for Service King Collision Repair and then U.S. Risk Insurance Group in Dallas, Texas. While working at Service King she was recognized as Dallas’ Large Private Company CFO of the Year by D Magazine. Prior to Service King, Michelle spent five years at The ServiceMaster Companies, first as the CFO for TruGreen, the world’s largest consumer lawn care company, and then played an integral role in ServiceMaster’s successful IPO in 2014 as the head of FP&A and global strategy. Michelle spent almost 20 years in the travel industry working for some of the worlds’ largest and most well-known travel companies, including American Airlines, Continental Airlines and then Delta Air Lines, ultimately assuming the role of VP of Finance for Delta Airlines in 2001. She then joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2005 as the Chief Financial Officer for Starwood Vacation Ownership during a period rapid growth for the organization. Michelle currently serves on the board of directors for Spirit Realty Capital (NYSE: SRC) where she is a member of the audit committee. Michelle has also served on the advisory board for several not for profit organizations, currently serving as the Treasurer of the board of directors for Family Gateway, a not for profit organization focused on serving the needs of homeless children and their families in Dallas, Texas. She also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Greenhill School in Addison, Texas. A Texas native, Michelle received her bachelor’s degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas in Economics and her MBA from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas in Austin. She resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband of 30 years and their four children and their four dogs. Links: Website: https://www.mycwt.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellefrymire/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mmfrymire  

We’re living in the age of influence where our personal brands precede us. How often do you audit your personal brand to find out what people say about you when you aren’t in the room? What do others perceive of you when they see your digital footprint?  Whether you want a personal brand or not, you have one. In this episode, we will share why it’s important to build your personal brand and the 3 step to building your brand so you don’t miss the opportunity to make your reputation work for you. 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 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