BEYOND BARRIERS

Have you ever proceeded down a career path even though you didn’t feel it was right for you? Perhaps it was due to family expectations to go into a certain profession or the pressure to stick with it because you’ve already invested so much time. Expectations of who we’re supposed to be or what we’re supposed to do can often lead us down the wrong path. Regardless of the reasons, one thing is certain – your success gets accelerated when you are aligned to your purpose and passion. Meet Elizebeth Varghese, Global Leader for Talent & HR Transformation Strategy at IBM. Elizebeth shares her story of gaining perspective from her failures while heading down the wrong career path, and how those failures helped her find her true purpose, define the ways in which she wanted to contribute to the world, and set her on the path to being the author of her own story. Elizebeth is a Business Leader and Board Director who partners with C-level leaders to enable powerful business outcomes. Elizebeth furthers People & Technology strategies with solutions in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, Blockchain and robotics - for organizations that operate around the world, and in Space. She is recognized as a global Top 100 Influencer, for her continuing work as a futurist and thought leader. Elizebeth brings creativity, and a thoughtful, collaborative approach to inspire, uncover the best thinking and exceed business results. In this episode, Elizebeth shares insights into taking risks to advance your career, thriving in the future of work, and the most valuable skill for success 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 Elizebeth. Highlights: [03:05] Elizebeth’s story [05:45] Gaining perspective from failure [10:59] Having gratitude for what you have [13:46] Overcoming fears [19:16] Advice on taking risks to advance your career [23:19] How to thrive in the future of work [27:17] The most valuable skill to develop [29:57] Advice on overcoming barriers [33:47] Owning your voice and your viewpoints [36:57] Balancing work and home life [42:06] Final words of advice from Elizebeth   Quotes: “It is important to be the author of your own potential and your own capability.” – Elizebeth Varghese  “We would be much better as a global community if we could link arms and ensure that more people have access to what they need.” – Elizebeth Varghese  “It's very important to keep close to your purpose because there'll be many days when you doubt yourself, and other people will doubt you. But if you know who you are and what you're here for and what you want to leave with, it makes a big difference.” – Elizebeth Varghese  “The ability to unlearn and accept new input and accept new requirements is going to be the most important life skill.” – Elizebeth Varghese  About Elizebeth Varghese: Elizebeth is a Business Leader and Board Director who partners with C-level leaders to enable powerful business outcomes. Elizebeth furthers People & Technology strategies with solutions in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, Blockchain and robotics - for organizations that operate around the world, and in Space. She is recognized as a global Top 100 Influencer, for her continuing work as a futurist and thought leader. Elizebeth brings creativity, and a thoughtful, collaborative approach to inspire, uncover the best thinking and exceed business results. Elizebeth has business and operational experience and achieved significant growth in all her P&L roles. She has a track record of exceeding growth targets by developing new services, margin management, attracting and growing leading talent, transforming the internal and external brand and inspiring the team to achieve exceptional results and exceed growth targets consistently. She has also worked with CEOs and leaders from various industries and organizational life cycle to successfully inspire transformation and strong business results by sharing clear vision, identifying and motivating talent and developing sound operational foundations. As a Partner at IBM, she leads Talent and HR Reinvention Strategy client services. She also leads markets and big deals for Cloud transformations across six, high priority, businesses - HR consulting, HR outsourcing, AI & Emerging Tech, Workday, SuccessFactors, and Oracle HCM services. Elizebeth is a member of IBM’s Team on Good Technology. She is also the integrated services community leader for IBM’s Space Exploration Services. Elizebeth is on the Council of Advisors for the SETI Institute, which works with NASA and other space agencies to explore, understand and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe and the evolution of intelligence. She is a Finance Committee member, and active Board member at South Asian Youth Action, a non-profit providing after-school programming, education and college support. Currently located in New York, she has lived and worked around the world, and brings extensive experience in executing business strategy through human capital initiatives. She has over twenty years of consulting experience in HR optimization, talent management, and organization effectiveness. She also coaches Boards and business leaders to enhance effectiveness and manage their teams. Before that, Elizebeth was at Ernst & Young (EY) where she was a business leader and Partner in various roles including leader of the Americas (North America, South America and Israel) practice for HR Performance Improvement and Americas market leader for Talent Management. Elizebeth was also a Senior Vice President at Aon-Hewitt and led the Talent Solutions practice (Assessment, Test Development & Technology Platforms, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, HR Transformation, Call Center Performance, Engagement). She has also been a Principal at Hewitt Associates and led the North American Corporate Transformation consulting team. Elizebeth has MBAs from both, the Columbia Business School, New York and the London Business School, UK. She also has a Masters in Personnel Management from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and a Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mumbai, India.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizebethvarghese/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElizebethVarghe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizebeth.varghese/  

Did you know that many of the skills of today will be obsolete in 18 months? In the next 3 to 4 years, 50% of employees worldwide are going to need to be reskilled. Companies are doing their best to keep up, but it’s not enough, which is why it is more important than ever for individuals to develop the muscle of consistent learning. In this episode, we share why it’s important to develop the superpower of learning, the different styles of learning, and Nikki also shares her learning strategies that help her keep up with the speed of change and disruption. DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz Highlights: [00:37] Why learning is a superpower [03:12] What the research shows on how we learn [04:18] The styles of learning [06:59] Nikki’s strategy for continuous learning Quotes: “With how fast we are evolving, the ability to continuously learn new things is a must-have superpower.” – Nikki Barua “How much time every week are you investing in learning.” – 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 does it really take to stand out as a high performer who gets bigger opportunities? That’s the question we’ll be addressing in this episode. Being great at your job is important, but to accelerate your career success, your value-add must go beyond your job description. Your ability to solve hard problems and create value in new ways IS what makes you more valuable. In this episode, Elisa Steele, CEO and Board Director, shares her perspective on creating value through relationships and problem-solving. She challenges everyone to be proactive in seeking hard assignments where there is a need for change, and to do what it takes to solve problems instead of simply accepting the status quo. Elisa attributes her own successes to always going above and beyond in creating value for others. Elisa has held numerous C-suite roles including CEO of Namely, CEO of Jive, CMO of Consumer Apps & Services at Microsoft, CMO at Skype, EVP & CMO at Yahoo! Elisa also has deep board experience serving on multiple committees for both public and private companies. Currently, Elisa is a Board Director at Bumble, Chairman of the Board at Cornerstone On Demand, and member of the Board of Splunk and Namely. She is a member of the NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) and participates in the Equilar Board Leadership Program. Elisa has been recognized for her leadership throughout the years, building strong teams, networks and ecosystems. She was recognized by the Stevie American Business Awards for ‘Executive of the Year’ and ‘Woman of the Year’ as well as named a “Woman of Influence” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. 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 Elisa.   Highlights: [03:02] Elisa’s formation story [05:22] Learning about business by solving customer problems [07:51] Developing mastery of enterprise sales [12:49] Seize opportunities to close gaps [16:38] Supporting the needs of women’s careers [19:47] Elisa’s experience with balancing family & work [22:22] How motherhood shaped Elisa in her role as CEO [25:39] Advice for women seeking Board positions [28:54] Importance of visibility in getting Board roles [32:42] Advice for startup female founders [35:40] First consideration in scaling a business [37:33] Ask questions and become a better listener [40:44] Elisa’s daily success habit   Quotes: “When you build relationships and help people solve problems, you create value.”– Elisa Steele “Take the hard assignments at the beginning of your career because you learn exponentially more than you learn in taking the easy assignments.” – Elisa Steele “It's not just about the rules of today, it's about how you break through those to create the rules of tomorrow.” – Elisa Steele   About Elisa Steele: A business leader in tech sector for 30 years, Elisa is an experienced executive in Silicon Valley. Elisa has broad experience across consumer and enterprise businesses – and thrives at the intersection of both. She’s led transformations to scale, grow and drive impact across many organizations, both large and small. Elisa was mostly recently CEO of Namely, a leader in HCM SaaS, funded by Sequoia Capital, Matrix Ventures and Golden Gate Ventures. During her time as CEO, Elisa raised $60M in venture funding, delivered product modernization, improved customer NPS and set the foundation for scalable growth. Prior to Namely, Elisa was Jive Software’s President & CEO (NASDAQ: JIVE), responsible for strategy and global operations. Elisa reset corporate strategy, transitioned to a cloud-leading business, created focus on large scale enterprise solutions and delivered turnaround business and financial results for shareholders, customers and employees. Under her leadership, the company was ultimately acquired for $462M. Elisa joined Jive as EVP of Marketing (CMO) & Products (CPO), and was promoted to CEO after 9 months of joining the company. Prior to Jive, Elisa was CVP & CMO of Consumer Apps & Services at Microsoft, including responsibility for the brands bing, Internet Explorer, Lync, MSN, outlook.com, Cortana and Skype, among others. Prior to Microsoft, she was CMO at Skype, EVP & CMO at Yahoo! And SVP at NetApp. She also held various sales, business development, general manager and leadership positions at Sun Microsystems and AT&T.  Elisa is Chairman of the Board of Cornerstone On Demand (NASDAQ: CSOD), Chairman of Namely, and member of the Board of Directors of Splunk (NASDAQ: SPLK). She also serves as Advisor to the CEO of Tile and people.ai. She has deep board experience servicing on multiple committees for both public and private companies. She is a member of the NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) and participates in the Equilar Board Leadership Program. Elisa has been recognized for her leadership throughout the years, building strong teams, networks and ecosystems. She was recognized by the Stevie American Business Awards for ‘Executive of the Year’ and ‘Woman of the Year’ as well as named a “Woman of Influence” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Elisa served as a judge for the annual “Forbes Cloud 100”, the WSJ ‘Marketers that Matter’ awards, and the Churchill Club Awards. Elisa hosts a speaker series called SpeakHer Mind tm that seeks to amplify voices and share practical, positive steps that can deliberately build workplace environments that empower women to achieve their potential. Elisa has previously served on the Interactive Advertising Bureau Board of Directors and Executive Committee, as well as the Advisory boards for Forbes Women, Amber Alert and Equality Now organizations. Elisa holds an MBA from San Francisco State University (Distinguished Alumni) and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of New Hampshire (Phi Kappa Phi Honors). Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisasteele/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/elisasteele  

When we think of celebration, we think of holidays, birthdays, and big milestones like graduations and anniversaries that typically happen just once year. But do you ever take the time to think about and celebrate your small wins? In this episode, we share why it’s important to celebrate your progress on the way to achieving your big goals and share your small wins with the world. You’ll also learn a fun and easy way to motivate and inspire you on your journey to attaining your goals. DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz   Highlights: [00:34] Celebrating the small wins [07:53] Create your rewards catalog [12:28] Share your wins   Quotes: “Take a moment each week to reflect on what it is you deserve to celebrate.” – Nikki Barua  “Don’t minimize your achievements. When someone congratulates you for a job well done, just say thank you.” – 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/  

Do you wake up and head to work every day with the feeling that you are just going through the motions? Have you experienced that nagging feeling that something is missing and that you aren’t living your life’s purpose? Our guest, Claudia Castellanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Black Mamba Foods, had a successful corporate career but couldn’t shake the feeling that she was meant to do more with her life. To the surprise of her friends, Claudia quit her corporate job to volunteer in Africa in search of her purpose. In this episode, Claudia shares her story of finding clarity, overcoming her fears and making difficult decisions, leading to the launch of her own business, Black Mamba Foods. Claudia is passionate about Africa and finding ways to develop the continent through sustainable projects that uplift women, considers the inclusion of grassroots communities and protection of the environment. Black Mamba Foods is a growing brand with a strong social and environmental ethos, based in Eswatini (eh·swaa·ti·nee), that manufactures and distributes specialty food products in Southern Africa and overseas. 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 Claudia.   Highlights: [02:28] Claudia’s journey [06:38] Gaining clarity on your strengths [10:45] Getting past your fears & limiting beliefs [13:40] Strategies for making difficult decisions [16:50] Overcoming failures and setbacks [20:41] Gaining access to influential leaders and mentors [25:47] Tips on effective execution [30:09] Accelerating success in the digital age [32:50] About Black Mamba   Quotes: “Often times you realize what you don't want to do before you realize what you want to do.” – Claudia Castellanos “If you're tired, learn to rest and not to quit.” – Claudia Castellanos “A goal without a plan of action is no more than a dream.”– Claudia Castellanos   About Claudia Castellanos: Claudia Castellanos, a Colombian that came as a volunteer to Eswatini and fell in love with Africa and made it her home, is the co-Founder and Managing Director of Black Mamba Foods, a growing brand with a strong social and environmental ethos based in Eswatini that manufactures and distributes Specialty food products in Southern Africa and overseas. Claudia has over 12 years of experience working as a marketing consultant for several businesses and NGOs in Eswatini and overseas, and as a lecturer for international Universities such as the European School of Economics (www.eselondon.ac.uk) in Italy, and Mananga Business College in Eswatini. Previously Claudia worked as Regional Manager for SAIWA SpA (www.saiwa.it) a former company of the Danone Group, in charge of trade marketing and sales activities with the main retailers of Central Italy. Claudia has also been involved as a trainer and mentor for Technoserve in Eswatini, and also for several business accelerator programmes (such as VVGROW from Vital Voices) locally and internationally. Claudia holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with specialisation in Marketing from ESADE Business School and a major in Finance and International Relations from Universidad Externado de Colombia (Bogota, Colombia). Since 2016 Claudia is a fellow of Vital Voices, an American NGO that works with women entrepreneurs from around the world supporting their growth. Since 2019 she is also an active member of ECCo (Eswatini Climate Coalition), a grassroots organization promoting awareness, action and civic engagement around climate change and pollution in Eswatini. In 2020 Claudia was awarded the WIA (Women in Africa) Award as the Eswatini Laureate for her work with Black Mamba, promoting and developing regenerative agriculture and inclusive value chains.  Claudia is passionate about Africa and finding ways to develop the continent through sustainable projects that take into consideration the upliftment of women, the inclusion of grassroots communities and the protection of the environment.   Links: Website: http://blackmambachilli.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiacastellanos/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackmambafood/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackMambaChilliVenom/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/blackmambafood/ Recent news: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/416/162/210485.html  

Most of us having been working remotely for the past year and the boundaries between our work and home lives have become blurred. Women have been disproportionately affected by these blurred boundaries and burnout is on the rise. As organizations explore the right collaboration model (onsite vs. remote), it is very likely that the future workplace will be a hybrid environment. It’s not just about where you work, but also when you work. So, how do you ensure high performance without losing yourself to burnout? In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of setting boundaries so that you can achieve your goals while maintaining your health and well-being. You’ll also learn the 5 steps to establishing healthy boundaries and how to thrive in any environment. DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz Highlights: [00:47] The effects of remote work [03:12] What’s really causing burnout [04:38] How Monica learned to set boundaries [09:48] The steps to establishing boundaries [20:50] Use PTR – Preference, Tradition, Requirement   Quotes: “Being authentic and setting boundaries gives you more freedom.” – Monica Marquez “As an entrepreneur, if you do not set boundaries for yourself, they will not exist.” – Nikki Barua “Boundaries are the most important mechanism to living your life on your own terms.” – Nikki Barua “Boundaries can help you protect your energy, your focus, and even your values.” – 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  

Are you passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion? Do you courageously say something when you see something happening to you or others that just doesn’t feel right? Or do you feel yourself shying away from it because you don’t know what to do in those moments? How would you like to learn some game-changing strategies that you can implement to help disrupt unconscious and systemic bias? Our guest, Stacey Gordon, CEO and Chief Diversity Strategist of Rework Work, shares how her journey was led by her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion. After an experience in the corporate world, Stacey decided that she didn’t want to perpetuate the cycle of bad practices that she had witnessed and decided to strike out on her own and work on implementing DEI strategies at companies holistically. In her role as Executive Advisor and Diversity Strategist, she coaches and counsels executive leaders on DEI strategies for the business while offering a no-nonsense approach to education for the broader employee population. Taking a 360-degree of work, Stacey is the creator of the second most viewed course at LinkedIn learning and has surpassed the milestone of having reached more than 1 million unique learners. In this episode, Stacey shares her insights on identifying your passion and purpose, navigating systemic biases, and her framework for addressing microaggressions. Stacey is also a repeat best-selling author, recently releasing UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work, which is a must-have resource for all employers, managers, and HR professionals seeking to create and sustain healthy, inclusive, and equitable workplace environments. 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 Stacey. Highlights: [02:49] Stacey’s journey [04:06] Identify your passion [06:21] Advice for women on stepping up for themselves [10:21] Don’t tell yourself no before you’ve given somebody the opportunity to say no [12:58] Building lasting relationships [16:58] Tips on achieving your goals [20:24] Adapting to the disruption of the last year [24:30] Navigating systemic biases [29:30] How to address microaggressions [33:52] How to connect with Stacey [35:27] Advice on accelerating your success   Quotes: “Don't tell yourself no before somebody else has. Give them the opportunity to say no, but don't discount yourself.” – Stacey Gordon “We should turn the advocacy inward and advocate for ourselves, just as we’d advocate for others and for our children.” – Stacey Gordon “Just start pursing your goals. A year from now, you will wish you had started today.”– Stacey Gordon   About Stacey Gordon: Leading at the intersection of diversity, inclusion, and workplace culture, as CEO and Chief Diversity Strategist of Rework Work, Stacey focuses on reworking how companies work; including how they inclusively recruit, hire and engage employees, effectively creating inclusion and belonging for all. In her role as Executive Advisor and Diversity Strategist, she coaches and counsels executive leaders on DEI strategies for the business while offering a no-nonsense approach to education for the broader employee population. Taking a 360-degree of work, Stacey is the creator of the second most viewed course at LinkedIn learning and has surpassed the milestone of having reached more than 1 million unique learners. Her unconscious bias course has been translated into at least four languages and has been featured by LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Virgin America (now Alaska Airlines). Stacey is a highly rated coach practitioner who has facilitated coaching of senior DEI leaders at several Diversity & Inclusion forums. She was recognized by Pepperdine University as a Top 40 Over 40 Leader, was a finalist for Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women’s Award and was recognized by Forbes as a Top 3 Business Leader Who Spoke Out About Diversity & Inclusion. Previously employed as an Adjunct Professor teaching Diversity in Organizations at Phillips Graduate University, she now teaches at Pepperdine University in the Business School where she earned her MBA. Formerly the Director of Education for the largest SHRM affiliate in the country, Stacey earned her both her Inclusive Workplace Culture credential and her SHRM Senior Certified Professional certification from the Society for Resource Management (SHRM). She is the author of a best-selling interview guide titled The Successful Interview: 99 Questions to Ask and UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work. As a leadership consultant and DEI strategist, Stacey has provided subject matter expertise to SHRM, Fast Company, Skillsoft, Forbes, NPR Radio, BBC Radio, Essence Magazine, and Monster.com, to name a few. She was also a career segment guest contributor to Fox Business and is a frequently requested keynote speaker.   Links: Website: https://reworkwork.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceygordon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/reworkwork Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diversitydiva/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reworkwork  

Do you struggle to ask for what you want? Whether it be asking for a promotion, a raise, or a business opportunity, many of us struggle with the fear of rejection or even with phrasing the ask in the right way. In this episode, Nikki and Monica share experiences where they’ve struggled to ask for what they wanted and the results they obtained when they overcome their fears and learned to ask.  Nikki also shares the 5 keys to getting up the courage to ask and getting the results you desire.   DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz Highlights: [01:17] Monica’s story of asking for what she wants [04:30] Don’t miss out on opportunities [06:39] Gaining the courage to ask [10:51] Being clear on your ask [12:32] The best way to ask [18:08] Always be gracious [18:36] Recap of 5 keys to asking for what you want   Quotes: Get absolutely clear about what you want and why you want it. Then ask for it.” – Nikki Barua “Choose the right time, the right method, and the right language of the ask. Be respectful and gracious even when things don’t go your way.” – 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  

Change and advancement rarely happen on their own. Connection and community are what really move the needle. Leaders who understand this principle have the power to create positive ripple effects throughout their communities and organizations. Meet Stephanie Kinser, EVP, Enterprise Solutions at Salesforce, who is known for her leadership approach which puts culture and people at the center of a sustainable growth strategy. She is a champion for equality creating a world-class sense of belonging for all. Stephanie connects her passion for STEM and developing future talent at Salesforce by serving as executive sponsor of the Women in Solutions Excellence (WISE) organization. This diverse and vibrant organization is giving back to schools and creating a path for future Solution Engineers in the workforce. In this episode, Stephanie shares how growing up in a military family that moved around frequently taught her how to adapt to change, and exposed her to the power of relationships, opportunities, and diversity. Stephanie encourages women to pursue their vision and overcome obstacles in their path. She shares insights on having the confidence to ask for what you deserve, and strategies for overcoming doubts. Stephanie also challenges us to question if our fears are real or imaginary, and if we are limiting ourselves or if we are in a limited situation. 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 Stephanie.   Highlights: [02:42] Stephanie’s story [05:45] The decision to go in to technology [07:44] Connecting your personal and professional life [09:34] Pivotal moment in Stephanie’s career [11:42] How to ask for what you deserve [14:22] Overcoming doubt and limiting beliefs [17:22] Maintaining your objectivity about your fears [19:23] Finding mentors and sponsors [21:50] The makings of a good leader [24:44] Handling a setback and looking forward [27:41] Strategies for overcoming and learning from failure [30:37] Seeing the opportunity for the future [32:15] Advice to leaders as they look at the future of talent development [33:20] What keeps Stephanie grounded [38:13] Stephanie’s message to future women leaders   Quotes: “Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is powerful and leads to growth.” – Stephanie Kinser   “Ask yourself, periodically, if you are limiting yourself or are you in a limited situation.” – Stephanie Kinser  “Are you putting the fear and doubt into a scenario or is it really there?” – Stephanie Kinser   “The next opportunity will come. Are you waiting for it or are you helping to make it happen?” – Stephanie Kinser    About Stephanie Kinser: As Executive Vice-President of Solutions at Salesforce, Stephanie Kinser​ brings a wealth of digital transformation and connected experiences expertise from a distinguished career focused on all stakeholders in this dynamic work-from-anywhere world. Stephanie is known for her leadership approach which puts culture and people at the center of a sustainable growth strategy. She is a champion for equality creating a world-class sense of belonging for all. Stephanie joined Salesforce in 2003 when the company had less than 500 employees and revenues of $51M. Since that time, Salesforce has grown to $25B in revenue and 49,000 employees dedicated to customer success. The evolution of the Enterprise team has provided focus on Salesforce’s largest customers, the trailblazers adopting cloud computing at scale. This has led to an enviable rank of #1 in customer renewal rate, as well as the repeated distinction as one of Forbes Magazine’s most innovative companies, and Fortune Magazine’s most admired companies. Prior to joining Salesforce, Stephanie was a Solutions Engineering leader at Ondisplay Software. As employee #23, she played an instrumental role in the company’s successful 1999 IPO and subsequent $1.4B acquisition by Vignette Software. Stephanie’s continued leadership contributed to the successful integration of the selling organizations of these two companies. Stephanie began her career at Ceridian (an IBM Company), implementing Payroll and HR solutions. She gained technical expertise in data centers, data privacy, complex payroll and tax regulations, outsourcing, and security before transitioning to Solution Engineering. Her background also includes Solution Engineering roles for Dun & Bradstreet Software. Stephanie connects her passion for STEM and developing our future talent at Salesforce by serving as executive sponsor of the Women in Solutions Excellence (WISE) organization. This diverse and vibrant organization is giving back to schools and creating a path for future Solution Engineers in the workforce. Stephanie earned a degree in Management Information Systems at the University of Oklahoma and in 2016 was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni. She was recently featured as a keynote speaker at events hosted by Texas A&M and The University of Oklahoma. ​Stephanie and her husband Patrick have two teenaged children and live in Plano, TX. She loves travel, gardening, music, and movies. She is a proud board member of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniekinser/

This past year has brought with it many challenges. The pandemic has changed the landscape of how we work and many are suffering from burnout due to the side effects such as blurred boundaries between our work and personal lives. In this episode, Nikki shares her experience with burnout in her career. Nikki and Monica also share the signs of burnout and what you can do to build resilience so that you can prevent burnout before it happens. DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS & BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Take the free assessment and get your personalized report. Go to https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com/quiz   Highlights: [01:29] The stresses of today [05:28] What is burnout and what causes it [07:48] Nikki’s experience with burnout [08:33] Building your resiliency   Quotes: “Resilience is a muscle that you have to develop.” – Monica Marquez “Stop associating productivity with hours.” – Nikki Barua “Set realistic goals and set boundaries for yourself and others to prevent burnout.” – Monica Marquez “Surround yourself with like-minded people who are going to help and support you.” – 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