BEYOND BARRIERS

We’ve all heard the saying “you only live once” or YOLO in our world of text abbreviated acronyms. Most give it the meaning of “make the most out of the days you have”. Some, take it to mean, “do the things you find enjoyable or exciting”. But a few, like our guest, take it to the next level by using it as a catalyst for inspiration and the motivation to take on any challenge that comes their way. Meet Robyn Streisand, CEO & Founder of The Mixx & Titanium Worldwide, who left her corporate job to pursue her mission of creating something for the greater good. Not wanting any regrets or any would have, could have, should haves, Robyn launched her entrepreneurial career and has never looked back. Today, Robyn is now one of the most successful leaders in her industry as she celebrates 25 years of guiding The Mixx agency. As a community builder, Robyn was determined to open doors for others, so she launched Titanium Worldwide, the world’s first collective of certified-diverse agencies in the marketing, media, and communications space. In this episode, Robyn shares her inspiration for entrepreneurship, why we shouldn’t deny ourselves the once in a lifetime chance of bringing our gifts to the market, and how building the right company culture isn’t something you can buy. Robyn is a recognized figure in the LGBT community, featured in Out Magazine as most influential OUT 100 people in the United States. Her commitment to working with diverse-owned businesses has always been a point of passion, where she continues to focus on leveraging the business potential of independent, diverse companies. 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 Robyn. Highlights: [03:02] Robyn’s inspiration for entrepreneurship [05:35] Advice on taking the first step towards entrepreneurship [10:07] Landing the bigger clients [14:23] Robyn’s proudest moments [23:10] What fuels Robyn [27:18] Establishing self-care as a non-negotiable [35:52] About Titanium [48:17] Inspiration and influencer for LGBTQ community [53:34] Robyn’s message to the world   Quotes: “You have just one life and you don’t want to have those would have, could have, should have regrets.” – Robyn Streisand “Having a company that believes in itself and the people believe in each other, transcends outward as an energy, as a mindset, as a way of working. It's not the kind of thing that you can just buy anywhere.” – Robyn Streisand “Diversity isn’t about checking the box. The real energy comes from within, when a company starts from the right place and takes the right steps around getting educated and trained. That can transcend inside a company and then be shared outside.” – Robyn Streisand About Robyn Streisand: A 30-year marketing veteran, Robyn Streisand is the perfect blend of business savvy and creative prowess. In March of 2018 her agency The Mixx celebrated its 25th anniversary of delivering visionary creative that ignites emotion and generates action across the Fortune 500. She works with industry leaders who appreciate the key insight she brings to the table, along with the top-level strategy, creative, and execution her team provides. Her clients have her number on speed-dial and appreciate that they can count on her for solutions that get to the heart of their business goals. Clients include Mercedes-Benz USA, Disney, and Deloitte, amongst many others. Robyn is a recognized figure in the LGBT community, recently featured in Out Magazine’s 2016’s most influential OUT 100 people in the United States and is a co-founder of the NGLCC NY in Manhattan. Her commitment to working with diverse-owned businesses has always been a point of passion, where she continues to focus on leveraging the business potential of independent, diverse companies. This same entrepreneurial instinct and passion for diversity led her to launch a second venture, Titanium Worldwide. The world’s first collective of certified-diverse agencies in the marketing, media, and communications space launched in 2014, and offers integrated solutions for today’s business needs. Her knack for connecting the right people, and her strong belief in finding ways to work better together paid off when the collective landed contracts with Fortune 500 companies within its first year. Robyn and her wife Linda have raised two beautiful girls together and reside in New York City. Links: Websites: https://themixxnyc.com/ https://www.titaniumww.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynstreisand/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/robynstreisand https://twitter.com/themixxnyc Instagram: https://instagram.com/robynstreisand  

Do you share your successes with others? Are others aware of the impact you have created? Career progression is directly influenced by how you are perceived by those who can make or influence decisions. To get ahead and advance in your career, you must take ownership of your successes. In this episode, we share how you can demonstrate your impact, put yourself in a better position to be hired, promoted and compensated well, and stop being the best kept secret!   Highlights: [00:41] Hiring statistics [01:52] Why achievements of women executives are less visible [04:08] The struggle with promoting yourself [08:44] Make your greatest hits list   Quotes: “There are things known, and there are things that are unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” – Monica Marquez “When you finish a project, you must share your results with a little self-promotion to gain the necessary visibility to advance.” – Monica Marquez “Every accomplishment builds upon the previous one and amplifies your value to the world.” – Monica Marquez “Your reputation allows other people to know how you can help them.” – 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  

Pivotal moments are critical turning points that bring new perspectives and opportunities that alter the trajectory of our lives. As Tony Robbins famously said, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” The decisions we make define our path of success, failure, and even happiness. Meet Jennifer Lagaly, Senior Vice President at Salesforce, who shares her story of navigating the pivotal moments in her life and career, which ultimately led her to success as a corporate executive and a mother of five. Jennifer shares advice on finding clarity on your career path, how motherhood prepares women for management, and why it is important for women to stay in the game and have their voices heard. Jennifer serves on the board of FinancialForce and has held a variety of sales roles in her 18 years at Salesforce guiding the success of her team and clients. She recently gave a TEDx talk inspiring both women and men with strategies to balance successful careers and a fulfilling parenting experience. 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 Jennifer.   Highlights: [02:29] Jennifer’s childhood career aspirations [04:15] Advice on finding clarity in early career stage [07:07] Path to Senior Executive in sales [11:17] Pivotal career moments & decisions [15:13] The catalyst behind Jennifer’s ambition [18:53] How motherhood prepares you for management [25:28] Demystifying sales [31:08] The best predictor of successful salespeople [34:32] What’s in the future for Jennifer [39:23] Advice to women in the workplace [40:49] Paying it forward   Quotes: “Employees perform best when they feel their leaders care and support them.” – Jennifer Lagaly “The best predictor of one’s future success is what they’ve done in the past.” – Jennifer Lagaly “Life is the journey, it is not the station. Striving and solving problems is life.” – Jennifer Lagaly   About Jennifer Lagaly: Jennifer Lagaly is a Senior Vice President, GM of Industrial Products at Salesforce. In her 18 years at the company, she's served in a variety of sales roles across the organization. Prior to Salesforce, she has experience in technology sales across several companies including Forte/Sun and Motiva/Siebel, and providing Siebel and Remedy call-center solutions to Siemens ICN. She is on the board of FinancialForce and has recently given a TEDx UCDavis talk inspiring both women and men to stay in the game while they balance successful careers and a fulfilling parenting experience. Lagaly lives in the Bay Area with her husband and five children and holds a degree in Chemical Engineering at University of California, Davis. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlagaly/

We've been conditioned to associate productivity and time efficiency with success. You often hear the saying “time is money”. But what if it isn’t about time at all? In this episode, we’ll discuss the obsession with time and why you should be managing your energy instead of your time. Nikki also breaks the myth around multitasking and shares 10 tips to help you break through the tyranny of time. Highlights: [01:01] Why we obsess about time [01:53] Manage your energy instead of your time [03:20] We all have 24 hours in a day [04:49] Focus on what you want to create [05:53] 10 tips to break through the tyranny of time [10:52] Multi-tasking does not equal productivity   Quotes: “Being busy and filling every minute of your day does not equate to creating impact.” – Nikki Barua “Time doesn't matter. It matters only when we're trying to do something that isn't joyful.” – Nikki Barua “One of the biggest myths is that multitasking increases productivity. Its saps your energy and your focus and actually slows you down.” – Nikki Barua “Once you choose your top priorities for the day, be sure you know the reasons why those matter.” – 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  

Albert Einstein once said, “Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.” He went on to say, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Now, we all know the tremendous impact Einstein made by pursuing big dreams. So, it stands to reason that boundless curiosity fuels discovery which ultimately leads to big dreams. Meet Ana Corrales, Chief Operating Officer for Google’s Consumer Hardware business, who shares her career journey and how curiosity helped her to gain clarity and led her to the perfect role. As COO, Ana leads the development process for Made by Google hardware and Nest products --phones, laptops, Google Home, Chromecast, Nest Thermostat --and manages getting those products into the hands of customers. She also drives the end-to-end IT efforts and customer experience work across the Google Hardware business. Ana previously led Google Hardware’s first-party retail efforts, including driving the growth of e-commerce channel, Google Store. Ana has been recognized by Forbes as one of the 50 Most Powerful Latinas in Business, and as one of the most powerful Latinas by the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA). HITEC (Hispanic Information Technology Executive Council) has recognized her as a top technology executive. She is known in the industry as a seasoned leader who can successfully grow startup businesses into multi-billion dollar companies. In this episode, Ana shares how mentors helped her unleash her curiosity and to dream bigger and pursue audacious goals. She also shares insights on making opportunities happen, overcoming fear and limiting beliefs, the importance of creating your own narrative, and challenges listeners to ask themselves, “Are dreams are really big enough?”. 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 Ana.   Highlights: [03:33] Ana’s journey [05:54] Gaining clarity through a love of learning [09:54] Making opportunities happen [12:41] Overcoming fear and limiting beliefs [17:57] Creating your own narrative [24:08] Ana’s success habits [30:03] Asking for help from your community [32:32] Dreaming big   Quotes: “Continuous learning is important and you will go further faster if you are deliberate in your learning.” – Ana Corrales “Don’t let your calendar manage your time .” - Ana Corrales “Success is not a linear journey.” - Ana Corrales “If every day goes perfectly well for you, you are likely not challenging yourself.” – Ana Corrales  “Be genuine and intentional in sharing your story lest others tell it for you.” – Ana Corrales   About Ana Corrales: Ana Corrales is the Chief Operating Officer for Google’s Consumer Hardware business. As COO, Ana leads the development process for Made by Google hardware and Nest products --phones, laptops, Google Home, Chromecast, Nest Thermostat --and manages getting those products into the hands of customers. Ana also drives the end-to-end IT efforts and customer experience work across the Google Hardware business. Ana previously led Google Hardware’s first-party retail efforts, including driving the growth of e-commerce channel, Google Store. Previously, Ana served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Nest. She also served as Senior Vice President of Product Operations at Cisco Systems. In 2006, Ana co-founded a startup solar company. As the acting CEO, Ana sold the company in 2010. Ana serves as a member of the Women@Google board and is an executive sponsor for HOLA, Google’s Latino Employee Resource Group. Ana serves on the board of directors for Watermark, the Bay Area’s largest women leadership organization, as an advisor to Roli, a company reinventing instruments that extend the joy of music-making to everyone. Ana has been recognized by Forbes as one of the 50 Most Powerful Latinas in Business, and as one of the most powerful Latinas by the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA). HITEC (Hispanic Information Technology Executive Council) has recognized her as a top technology executive. She is known in the industry as a seasoned leader who can successfully grow startup businesses into multi-billion dollar companies. Ana is a native of Costa Rica and earned a Masters of Engineering from Stanford University. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anacorrales/  

James Clear stated that habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. How much time do you devote to analyzing your habits? Do you study the habits of successful people? Almost 50% of our daily activities are driven by habits – good or bad. We are the product of our habits. In this episode, we discuss the common habits of high achievers. Highly achievers don't rise to the top by behaving like everyone else. We share how you can develop new habits that make success effortless. Highlights: [01:21] Common habits of high achievers [02:17] 5 most common habits of high achievers [05:48] Summary of 5 common habits [07:50] Nikki’s morning routine [10:33] How to develop new habits [12:45] How to replace bad habits with good habits   Quotes: “High achievers have morning routines that ground them, fuel them and empower them.” – Nikki Barua “High achievers have a habit of focusing on the most important thing and eliminating distractions.” – Nikki Barua “Be relentless in focusing on self-development.” – Nikki Barua “It’s not just about forming good habits, it’s replacing bad habits with good habits.” – Nikki Barua “If you want a certain outcome, you must invest time and allocate time towards it.” – 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  

Do you think of your career as a sprint or a marathon? Our guest, Gizelle George-Joseph, shares why it is actually both and why regardless of what phase of the race you are in, to raise your game, you need to consistently be focused on building your skillset and competencies. In this episode, Gizelle George-Joseph, managing director and global chief operating officer of the Global Investment Research Division at Goldman Sachs, also shares her career journey, the importance of building your community of truth-tellers, and why hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Gizelle is global chief operating officer of the Global Investment Research (GIR) Division. In this role, she works closely with divisional leadership on the management of GIR, as well as the development and execution of key strategic initiatives. Highlights: [02:25] Gizelle’s journey [06:01] Gizelle’s daily success habits [08:53] Overcoming setbacks [12:45] Building lasting work relationships [14:59] Gaining access to influential leaders [16:48] Overcoming limiting beliefs [18:46] Raising your hand for new opportunities [23:15] Seeking out feedback [26:58] Balancing professional and personal priorities [29:50] How to continue to accelerate your success   Quotes: “What are the skills that you need to raise your game on a day to day, week to week basis. Get all of those into your toolbox because that's what ultimately moves your career.” – Gizelle George-Joseph “It is important to have a good network of people around you, who can support you, because in moments when you feel like your cup is empty, they will be there to lean on.” – Gizelle George-Joseph “Think of building relationships in terms of what are you bringing to the table that will benefit the other person and the community.” – Gizelle George-Joseph “Always be prepared to talk about the things that you are working on and how it is moving the organization forward.” – Gizelle George-Joseph “Surround yourself with people who are going to tell you the truth about your weaknesses and strengths. And not tell you what to do, but instead feed into your decision making process.” – Gizelle George-Joseph “You can't be every woman every day.” – Gizelle George-Joseph “The only way to continue to be relevant is to be constantly changing and evolving and not going back to the comfort zone.” - Gizelle George-Joseph About Gizelle George-Joseph: Gizelle is global chief operating officer of the Global Investment Research (GIR) Division. In this role, she works closely with divisional leadership on the management of GIR, as well as the development and execution of key strategic initiatives. Prior to assuming her current role, Gizelle was chief administrative officer for Global Macro Research and GIR infrastructure. Previously, she was the global talent advisor for the Human Capital Management (HCM) Division. Earlier in her career, Gizelle led Learning and Engagement for GIR and was a talent advisor on the GIR HCM team. She joined Goldman Sachs on the Americas Equity Research Management team in 2005 and was named managing director in 2017. Gizelle is a founder of the Salisbury Development Organization, a nonprofit focused on hurricane relief and economic development efforts on the island of Dominica. She also serves on the Human Resources and Talent Committee for the DreamYard Project. Gizelle earned a BS in Business Management from South Carolina State University and an MS in Clinical Psychology from Georgia Southern University. . Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gizelle-george-joseph-9a127319/

What does leadership look like? Is there a blueprint for leadership that you should be following? Our guest believes that leadership is NOT one size fits all. So, stop trying to fit into a mold that doesn’t suit you. Meet Annie Jean-Baptiste, author, founder of the Equity Army, and the Head of Product Inclusion at Google, who shares her journey to discovering what true leadership looks like and how finding her authentic leadership style led to building trust with key stakeholders and the communities that she supports. In this episode, Annie also shares how she helps teams make sure Google products are made for everyone. She spends her days making sure everyone matters. But the most important message she shares is how YOUR voice, your unique experiences and what makes you different from others, is the secret to success. Annie leads Product Inclusion strategy across Google, including consultation, communications, scale and research and created the movement 3 years ago as a way to ensure underrepresented users felt seen throughout the product design process.   Highlights: [01:01] Annie’s story [04:02] Imposter syndrome [04:30] Lean into what makes you authentic [06:53] Gaining clarity on your strengths [10:02] Strategies to highlight value proposition [12:40] Framework for inclusive product design [17:42] Setting and achieving your professional goals [18:39] Writing Building For Everyone [22:50] Key to developing your personal brand [27:15] Annie’s success habit [30:13] How can women accelerate in the digital age   Quotes: “The more that you try to fit into a mold that wasn't made for you, the more energy you have to expend.” – Annie Jean-Baptiste “If you can find something that you're passionate about, something that gives you purpose, and you can get paid for it, that is the trifecta.” – Annie Jean-Baptiste “Periodically assess if the things you're doing are moving you towards your goals.” – Annie Jean-Baptiste “Find mentors, advisors, sponsors and coaches that are going to push you into uncomfortable situations so you can grow.” – Annie Jean-Baptiste About Annie Jean-Baptiste Annie Jean-Baptiste is an author, founder of the Equity Army, and the Head of Product Inclusion at Google. She leads Product Inclusion strategy across the company, including consultation, communications, scale and research and created the movement 3 years ago as a way to ensure underrepresented users felt seen throughout the product design process. Annie is passionate about making the web and Google’s products work for underserved communities while ensuring that Google is a place where everyone shines for their differences. She’s responsible for working with Google product teams and senior leaders on the creation and execution of their inclusive design strategy. She formerly created programs related to Diversity talent management and career development within several technical product areas within Google. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (go Quakers!) with degrees in International Relations & Political Science. She is an avid Boston sports fan & loves to bring her dog Hercules to work. She currently is based in Google’s San Francisco office. Outside of Google, Annie is a former American Heart Association spokesperson and a One Young World ambassador, focused on healthy lifestyles in underserved communities. She is also a former Hack the Hood mentor. She currently serves on the board of KQED. She's the intrapreneur in residence at the University Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education and a member of the IEEE's Ethically Aligned Design committee. She’s been inducted into the Haitian Roundtable’s 1804 society as “One to Watch” and inducted as one of the 30 Black Stars for Face to Face Africa in 2019. She’s also been covered in Vogue, Essence Magazine, Business Insider, Teen Vogue, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC, Cheddar, Business Insider, the Huffington Post, the Root, the Council of Fashion Designers of America Annual Report, The Miami Times, Boston Globe and Fortune Magazine. Her book, Building for Everyone, is available now. Follow her on social media: @its_me_ajb.   Links: Website: https://www.anniejeanbaptiste.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Building-Everyone-Practices-Googles-Inclusion/dp/1119646227 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-jean-baptiste-43511930/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its_me_ajb/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Its_Me_AJB  

Warren Buffet said that by far the best investment you can make is in yourself. Where do you invest your time, energy, and money? In this episode, we discuss why it is important to establish the habit of consistently upgrading your skills, competencies and knowledge. And why investing in yourself has guaranteed returns. Nikki also shares insights and strategies on how you can become a lifelong learner and aspire to success. 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  

Are you ready for a career change but have no idea what else you could do or where to start? Or perhaps you're between jobs or just starting out in your career, but you find the whole job search and interview experience to be overwhelming and stressful. Meet Ginny Clarke, CEO of Ginny Clarke, LLC and author of Career Mapping: Charting your Course in the New World of Work, who shares with us her journey as a black female, professional and single mom, navigating through work life and managing her own career to becoming an expert executive recruiter. In this episode, Ginny shares tips on gaining clarity on your strengths and how to communicate with recruiters to level up in your career. Ginny also shares advice on raising your hand for stretch opportunities, asking for help, and why the ability to communicate effectively is so important. 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 Ginny.   Highlights: [01:03] About Ginny Clarke [05:34] How someone discovers their unique strengths in order to communicate to people [07:40] How do you use those transferable skills to switch industries or switch roles? [12:19] Struggling with fear and limiting beliefs [16:04] Patterns that prevent women from showing up with confidence and owning their success [20:56] Expiring skill sets and stretch opportunities [24:58] Balancing personal and professional goals and setting boundaries [30:02] Importance of community [34:32] Future of work in digital age [38:00] Advice on digital interviews   Quotes: “Often what we love to do, is what we’re good at, and that can mean we have to push away what other people expect of us.” – Ginny Clarke “I’ve watched so many people get locked into one thing and what they don’t understand is they are a free agent and can own this process.” -Ginny Clarke “Part of growing up is learning to deal with the ambiguity of uncertainty. You can’t be rigid and risk averse because that will limit you.” -Ginny Clarke “Some of the mistakes women make in interviews and more broadly in their careers, they don’t come in willing to assert, ‘This is what I’m good at and this is how I do it.’” -Ginny Clarke “Competencies trump experience, you have to be your own advocate. In the digital world, go learn it in your own time to keep moving.” -Ginny Clarke “Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak, if you’re sharing your vision, sometimes you don’t even have to ask for help.” -Ginny Clarke   About Ginny Clarke: Ginny Clarke is CEO of Ginny Clarke, LLC. She provides unparalleled skills and insights to some of the world’s leading executive search firms and technology companies. As a seasoned executive recruiter, she brings a unique, holistic approach to leadership assessment, hiring, diversity recruiting, and talent management that is essential more now than ever. Ginny is a systems thinker who can deconstruct processes and behaviors to carefully assess organizational and individual capability. From there, she provides integrated solutions to affect change. Specialties include Leadership Assessment and Training, Talent Acquisition Process Design, Diversity Recruiting Strategy and Execution, Career Management and Internal Mobility. Before pursuing her own business, Ginny held senior leadership positions at Google and Spencer Stuart. At Google, she acted as Director, Executive Recruiting. In this role, she led the Diversity, Internal Mobility, and Non-Tech Recruiting teams. Her team of North American recruiters found and hired senior leaders (Directors +) for finance, sales, marketing, and other G&A functions across Google. She leveraged her expertise to build a scaled internal mobilityprogram for Google’s senior leaders and designed much of the infrastructure that supports their executive recruiting function today. At Spencer Stuart, Ginny was a Partner who worked in the firm’s Financial Services and Financial Officer Practices and co-founded and led Spencer Stuart’s Global Diversity Practice. Ginny drew upon her breadth and depth of experience to write her book “Career Mapping: Charting Your Course in the New World of Work” (2011). The book provides a framework that empowers individuals to plot and assess their professional competencies and strategically navigate their careers. Ginny’s podcast “Fifth Dimensional Leadership” is designed for leaders, thinkers, and future-makers dedicated to creating the conscious workplace of tomorrow. Ginny earned her BA in French and Linguistics from the University of California at Davis and her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School. She is the single mother of an adult son, Julian, who works in the entertainment industry.   Links: Website: https://www.ginnyclarke.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginnyclarke/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinnyClarke