BEYOND BARRIERS

This is our 100th episode and we want to thank you for your support. Thank you to everyone who is part of our community – our listeners from around the world, our inspiring guests who contribute their time and wisdom, our production partner MZ Studios who work their magic to ensure the highest listening quality, and our dearest teammate, Cheryl Couch, who puts her heart and soul into managing this show to ensure an outstanding experience every time. As for us, we are truly humbled by this achievement. When we began our journey, we had no idea how popular this show would become, or how much impact our message would create. In today’s episode, we want to share our story, and why we embarked on this mission to accelerate the advancement of women in leadership.   Highlights: [01:38] Why the mission matters [02:32] Industry disruption and how it impacts you [05:48] Despite progress, women are still being left behind [08:10] 2 things that need to happen to change status quo [10:23] Challenges women face in the workplace [16:53] How do you develop future-ready leaders [19:41] Challenges for senior leaders [22:38] Democratizing access to coaching and high performance training   Quotes: “In less than three years from now, 40% of the work will be different from what it is today.” – Nikki Barua “If you want to stay ahead, you have to shift your mindset, not just your skill set. You have to go from all knowing to always learning.” – Nikki Barua “Imagine a world where every woman could advance in a career because she has access to the right resources - the right training, the right coaching, and the right relationships and communities.” – Nikki Barua “In the age of influence, visibility matters. You can change hearts and minds if you're invisible.” – Nikki Barua “If you have something to give, something to teach, then it's time to step up and put a spotlight on yourself.” – 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  

Visibility matters. How can we expect to change the world if we’re invisible? That’s what we will discuss in this episode featuring Suezette Yasmin Robotham, who is a passionate advocate for visibility and authenticity as a catalyst for change. Suezette is a DEI practitioner, speaker, connector, coach, and a leading “Black Woman in Tech”. She currently leads Diversity Programs on the Global Product & Software Engineering Recruiting team at Facebook. Suezette has more than a decade of leadership experience, with expertise in talent acquisition, diversity & inclusion initiatives, leadership development, strategic planning and relationship building across various industry sectors. Suezette also founded a platform created to amplify the voices of Black Women in Tech and beyond, called #BlackTechBeauty in 2020.   Highlights: [03:26] Suezette’s journey [15:25] Building relationships [20:55] Advice on landing a role in Big Tech [22:18] Articulating the transferability of your skills [26:19] Overcoming limiting beliefs [30:32] Finding your community [33:42] Suezette’s daily success habits [36:44] Advice on accelerating success in the digital age [40:09] Black Tech Beauty   Quotes: “Be grateful for your process and trust in that process.” – Suezette Yasmin Robotham “Assess the company landscape and gain an understanding of who are the people that you have an opportunity to learn from.” - Suezette Yasmin Robotham “Owning who you are authentically can help you overcome imposter syndrome and increase your confidence.” - Suezette Yasmin Robotham “Ensure that your LinkedIn profile evokes someone to want to know more.” – Suezette Yasmin Robotham “The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself.” – Suezette Yasmin Robotham   About Suezette Yasmin Robotham: Suezette Yasmin Robotham is a DEI practitioner, speaker, connector, coach, and a leading “Black Woman in Tech.” She has more than a decade of leadership experience, with expertise in talent acquisition, diversity & inclusion initiatives, leadership development, strategic planning and relationship building across various industry sectors. Over her career, she has contributed her work to large urban school districts, such as Atlanta Public Schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools, as well as education reform organizations that include Teach For America, The New Teacher Project and The Achievement Network. She previously served as the lead Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Program Manager on the Google Search & Assistant team; and currently leads Diversity Programs on the Global Product & Software Engineering Recruiting team at Facebook. Suezette also founded a platform created to amplify the voices of Black Women in Tech and beyond, called #BlackTechBeauty in 2020. Suezette has been tapped as a speaker by a number of organizations across the U.S. and Canada for her thought leadership in authenticity in the workplace and diversity and inclusion, and she has been a featured TEDx Speaker (TEDxBeaconStreet 2015). Suezette is passionate about the power that can be realized in spaces where vulnerability, empathy and authenticity are encouraged, and she is devoted to using her talents to connect others – whether individuals or organizations – to the people, opportunities and resources that will help them realize, access and achieve their highest potential. Suezette is also a TNJ 40 Under Forty 2019 Honoree. An alumna of the University of Florida and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, Suezette currently lives, works, and plays in Brooklyn. Her words to live by: “You were brave before you were born.”-Her Mommy   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suezette/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suezette/ & https://www.instagram.com/blacktechbeauty/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/11Zette17  

How many of you experience sweaty palms, shaky knees, and can feel your heart about to pound its way out of your chest the moment you have to speak or perform publicly? Glossophobia, also known as the fear of public speaking, stage fright or performance anxiety, affects an estimated 73% of the population according to a recent article in Psychology Today. Now, in this day and age, with all of the new technology and the increase in video conference meetings, you have to be prepared to speak to an audience AND be camera-ready at any given moment. Which only increases the anxiety for many people. The good news, however, is that you can learn to control this fear.  In this episode, our guest, Michele Moreno, a 14+ year Hollywood actress and a Stanford graduate, shares her perspective on how any leader can become confident on camera to build trust and influence virtually anywhere —no matter how overwhelmed or terrified they start out. Michele teaches business leaders secrets from the acting world, where she appeared on hit TV shows such as ABC’s Boston Legal, FX’s The Shield and NBC’s Parenthood. She’s also a contributing author to 2 books by Guy Kawasaki and has appeared on dozens of online shows as a video confidence expert. Michele believes that the most valuable currency online today is people’s attention. Learning to capture it on camera is the superpower of the 21st century. So she wants you to lead with authority, confidence and on-camera style.   Highlights: [03:31] Michele’s story [05:02] Overcoming failure and taking action [07:11] Finding the right mentor [09:22] Getting comfortable with 60% confidence [11:05] Speaking up in a meeting [13:55] Common mistakes made on video [17:27] Formulating your value proposition [21:55] Crafting your brand [27:14] Tips on expressing your ideas confidently [30:27] Tricks to filler words [33:35] Accelerating success in the digital age   Quotes: “A winner is a loser who got up one more time.” – Michele Moreno “Grit is what makes winners.” - Michele Moreno “Paint your results in a way so that it is a mini-story in a time and place.” – Michele Moreno “Do a better job of saying no and knowing that you and your time are valuable.” – Michele Moreno   About Michele Moreno: Michele Moreno believes any leader can become confident on camera to build trust and influence virtually anywhere — no matter how overwhelmed or terrified they start out. She teaches business leaders secrets from the acting world, where she appeared on hit TV shows such as ABC’s Boston Legal, FX’s The Shield and NBC’s Parenthood. She’s also a contributing author to 2 books by Guy Kawasaki and has appeared on dozens of online shows as a video confidence expert. The most valuable currency online today is people’s attention. Learning to capture it on camera is the superpower of the 21st century. So she wants you to lead with authority, confidence and on-camera style.   Links: Free 20-minute chat at http://bit.ly/chatwithMichele Website: http://videoconfidence.biz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmichele/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelemmoreno/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachmichelemoreno/  

Do you know what people say about you when you aren’t in the room? What people say about you, think of you, and how they perceive you is what your reputation is built upon. And your reputation is your personal brand. Whether you want a personal brand or not, you have one! And if you aren’t actively building your brand, you are missing out on the opportunity to make your reputation work for you. In this episode, we will share why it’s important to build your personal brand and how to get started.   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 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  

Have you ever felt like you were the only one dealing with challenges that you didn’t know how to overcome? Those moments when you didn’t have an answer and wished you could get the wisdom and guidance of those who have walked that path before you. Meet Loren Feldman, former senior editor at Inc, Forbes and New York Times, who shares his perspective on the power of community and what helps business leaders survive and thrive. Loren Feldman is chief content officer of 21 Hats, an online platform for business owners. He currently hosts the 21 Hats Podcast and publishes the 21 Hats Morning Report, a daily email newsletter for entrepreneurs. Previously, he was a senior editor covering entrepreneurship at Inc, Forbes and the New York Times and hosted a call-in show for business owners, Mind Your Business, on Sirius XM. Loren has also spoken and moderated discussions at numerous conferences and seminars on entrepreneurship.   Highlights: [02:44] Loren’s career highlights [07:33] Starting a business during the pandemic [15:14] Highlighting stories of navigating through uncertainty [20:39] Lessons learned [23:52] Common traits of successful leaders [28:29] Women entrepreneurs and leaders [33:32] The venture capital industry [35:51] The importance of visibility [39:02] Living in this age of uncertainty   Quotes: “The most important part of a blog is the conversations that the content elicits.” – Loren Feldman “To be an entrepreneur, you have to be incredibly stubborn and headstrong, you have to be willing to keep going, when people are telling you that it's not going to work.” - Loren Feldman “The real challenge of being a successful entrepreneur is calibrating when to keep going no matter what and knowing when you need to listen to others.” – Loren Feldman “Find your tribe, find other people going through similar challenges. It cannot be a single person, you need a diversity of opinion.” – Loren Feldman   About Loren Feldman: Loren Feldman is chief content officer of 21 Hats, an online platform for business owners that will debut in 2020. He currently hosts the 21 Hats Podcast and edits the 21 Hats Morning Report, a daily email newsletter for entrepreneurs. Previously, he was a senior editor covering entrepreneurship at Inc, Forbes and the New York Times and hosted a call-in show for business owners, Mind Your Business, on Sirius XM. And he has spoken and moderated discussions at numerous conferences and seminars on entrepreneurship.   Links: Website: www.21hats.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feldmanloren/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lfeldman  

Many barriers stand in the way of a Latina interested in a career in STEM...from societal and familial norms to high school counselors telling Latinas, and other women for that matter, that “maybe you’d be better suited majoring in something else”. This has been the case for decades. Even if one pushes past discrimination, there is still the challenge of a lack of resources, support and the isolation of being “the only”. The numbers say it all: Only 2 percent of Latinas held science and engineering positions, as reported by the National Science Foundation. And that number hasn’t changed in the last 5 yrs. But Latinas in academia, the workforce, and beyond are working to change the depressing data. In this episode, you will meet Isaura Gaeta, Vice President of Security Research and General Manager of Intel Product Assurance & Security at Intel Corporation, who is leading by example in her respective field and sharing her story in order to encourage the next generation of Latinas in STEM.   Highlights: [03:51] Isaura’s journey [07:53] Overcoming limiting beliefs [09:51] Building relationships [15:28] First experience in corporate [18:50] Gaining access to influential leaders [22:47] Raising your hand for opportunities [24:33] Building your personal brand [27:09] Tips for achieving your goals [29:39] Staying ahead of the curve [32:24] Opportunities for the Latino community [36:41] Accelerating success in the digital age   Quotes: “Engineering is about helping people. It's about making our lives better.” – Isaura S. Gaeta “Always give more than you get back.” - Isaura S. Gaeta “Remind yourself that you have information that is valuable to share and if you don’t share it, then you may not make the progress that is needed.” – Isaura S. Gaeta “Utilize CPU – Commit to being your best self every day. Persist despite setbacks. Unite with your community for support.” – Isaura S. Gaeta “Quell that little voice that is telling you that you're not good enough or you're not supposed to be here. Stand up and say - Yes, I am supposed to be here.” - Isaura S. Gaeta “Be confident about sharing and asking for what you want.” - Isaura S. Gaeta   About Isaura S. Gaeta: Isaura leads an engineering team focused on hardware security research including penetration testing, physical attack mechanisms, and outreach to academia. Previously she was GM of systems engineering in the Platform Engineering Group and was responsible for optimizing engineering execution capacity, quality management systems, and operational excellence for a global engineering organization of 18k people. A 30-year veteran of Intel, Gaeta spent the first two decades of her Intel career developing various semiconductor processing technologies. Her work during that period led to two patents and five Intel Achievement Awards, the company’s highest recognition. Gaeta holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. She founded Intel’s Network of Executive Women for the Latin America region and was the chair of Intel’s Hispanic Leadership Council. Outside of Intel, she serves on the board of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley where she chairs the Nominating and Governance committee. The Hispanic IT Executive Council has recognized her six times on the top 100 Hispanic professionals in the IT industry.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaura-s-gaeta-1a50262/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/IsauraGaeta  

It’s that dreaded time of the year ... performance review cycles are in process in most organizations. According to research from SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management), 90% of performance reviews are painful and ineffective. Managers spend 210 hours on performance management and are inundated with reviews to complete. Meanwhile employees experience anxiety about an unpredictable outcome with 22% of employees preferring to call in sick rather than face a performance review. In this episode, we will share performance review tips so you can set yourself up for success and turn this into an opportunity and make the most of it to advance in your career.   Highlights: [00:40] Dreading the performance review [02:27] Actively managing your career [05:10] Tips for last minute prep for review [07:28] Seeking out the truth tellers for feedback [10:24] Be curious when receiving feedback [11:18] Always follow-up after a review [12:44] Summary of 5 performance review tips   Quotes: “If you're not actively managing your career, chances are that you haven't done all of the groundwork needed for you to make the most out of the feedback cycle and to leverage the review for advancement.” – Nikki Barua “Take every opportunity to illustrate your accomplishments and share measurable results that you've created.” – Nikki Barua “Your self-assessment is not the time to be humble. It is the time to advocate for yourself and highlight your accomplishments.” – Monica Marquez “Utilize the STAR method in your performance reviews – Situation, Tasks, Action, Results.” – Monica Marquez “Be strategic in who you ask for feedback and what you ask them to support you in.” - Monica Marquez “Seek feedback to listen and learn, not to refute and reject.” - Nikki Barua “Feedback is essential for growth, it is a gift.” – Monica Marquez   About Nikki Barua: Nikki Barua is a digital innovator, serial entrepreneur, author & speaker. Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenikkibarua/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiBarua   About Monica Marquez: Monica Marquez is an ex-Googler, diversity expert and senior corporate leader. Website: https://themonicamarquez.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonicaMarquez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonicamarquez/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicamarquez/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themmarquez  

How would you feel if you knew your manager had your back? What if they lifted you up and shined a light on your accomplishments? What if they were willing to do whatever it takes to give everyone a level playing field? Servant leadership is all about leading by lifting others. Our guest today is Tami Rosen and she is that kind of leader. She believes that leaders don’t go far if they leave others behind. Throughout her career, Tami has fought for the underdog and paved the way for others to get ahead, inspiring them to do more, learn more and become more. In this episode, Tami shares her perspective on leadership, contribution and impact. Tami is currently the Chief People Officer at Atlassian where she is responsible for the attraction, engagement, development, and experience of Atlassian’s most important asset –its people. Prior to Atlassian, Tami has held leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, Apple, and has served as the first Chief People Officer for both Quora and Luminar Technologies. Tami brings an agile philosophy to all aspects of people operations.   Highlights: [03:03] Tami’s journey [07:17] Risk-reward analysis [09:30] Seeking out feedback [13:23] Overcoming limiting beliefs [16:44] Tami’s superpower [19:43] Diversity and inclusion [24:20] Making the decision to change industries [30:01] Asking for help [33:33] Accelerating success in the digital age [35:19] Becoming a change agent for others [37:41] Tami’s final words of advice   Quotes: “It is just as important for others to share feedback when they see someone who is high performing as it is to be asking for the feedback.”– Tami Rosen “Building your network and relationships isn’t about the work you are doing in the moment, it’s about how you carry that forward and keep that relationship going.” – Tami Rosen “Asking for help allows others to know where they can use their superpowers to help you.” – Tami Rosen “Failure is an opportunity to learn and get back up and do something better and different.” – Tami Rosen “Drive the change you want to see. See what the future should be and make sure that you can help make that change happen.” – Tami Rosen “When you see somebody struggling, give them the support, because it's always more powerful in twos than it is by yourself.” – Tami Rosen   About Tami Rosen: Tami Rosen is a senior HR executive passionate about enabling people to perform at their best. Through leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, Apple as well as start ups like Quora and Luminar Technologies, she brought an agile philosophy to all aspects of people operations for up to 15,000 global employees, becoming known for strengths in four key areas: HR Transformation, Employer Branding, Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership Development and Culture Education. Throughout her career, she earned distinction as a relationship builder, thought leader, connector of people, and trusted advisor to executive teams.  Tami launched her corporate career at Goldman Sachs, where she spent 16+ years advancing from technical recruiter and generalist to heading human resources for three of the firm’s largest divisions: Technology, The Federation (back-office operations), and Investment Management. In global and regional roles, she provided the leadership to transform HR into a strategic business asset and instill excellence into talent management programs and processes. She advocated for and engaged employees through initiatives that embraced the inclusion and growth of female, LGBT, and diverse populations, including Wall Street’s first Ally program. She developed leaders and rising-stars, and set technical and business employees on career roadmaps designed to bring out their full potential.   Recruited to Apple Inc. as Human Resources Senior Director for two technical divisions, Tami used people analytics to shape talent recruitment, development and management programs designed to attract and retain the best performers in a competitive job marketplace. Her leadership facilitated the smooth integration of several large acquisitions, including Beats by Dre. Her success resulted in a rare invitation to join Apple University as a faculty member. Tami created and conducted development programs for executives and managers that focused on building innovative cultures and engaging employees. She also led research on employee attrition factors at suppliers in Asia.  Tami also served as the first Chief People Officer, Luminar Technologies, advising the executive team on strategic planning and organizational structure to ensure business viability. She established the HR infrastructure including compensation strategy and developed an empowering corporate culture.  Prior to Luminar, she was the first Vice President of People and Internal Communications at Quora where she made talent and culture a keystone of business strategy and provided executive leadership coaching.  She is currently the Chief People officer at Atlassian where she is responsible for the attraction, engagement, development, and experience of Atlassian’s most important asset – its people. She has been instrumental in developing the future of work called TEAM Anywhere and has shepherded the company through the recent pandemic. Tami currently resides in Los Altos with her husband (Marc), two children (Emma and Justin), two cats (Ava and Max) and her husky (Alani). She is passionate about philanthropy, coaching/mentoring, democracy/equality and working with STEM programs. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University in Law and Society.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tami-rosen-388714b/ Read Tami’s blog on Employee driven crisis response plan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tami.rosen Twitter: @tamibrosen

What would you do if you earned a seat at the table, but you struggled to belong or simply feel welcomed in the conversation? Recent research from the Center for Talent Innovation found that exclusion is a growing issue. And, that more than 40% of those surveyed feel isolated in the workplace. Now, imagine being the “only one” on a team or in a meeting and not feeling as though you belong, or worse, “not being heard”. In this episode, Melonie Parker, Chief Diversity Officer at Google, shares her career journey over the years as she learned to navigate the male-dominated corporate ladder, reclaim and step into her power, and become a passionate thought leader and an advocate for change.  Melonie is an HR executive committed to innovative, relevant, and contemporary HR leadership. She is responsible for advancing Google's employee engagement strategy across Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Additionally, Melonie serves as a Minority in Energy Initiative Champion for the Department of Energy. Highlights: [02:58] Melonie’s journey [04:05] Dealing with failure [05:34] Finding clarity on your career path [08:20] Gaining access to mentors and sponsors [15:36] Owning your seat at the table [18:30] Finding your voice [20:32] Don’t let others silence you [25:03] Feeling under the microscope as women of color [28:59] Building powerful relationships virtually [30:50] Opportunities for women of color [33:21] Diversity, Equity & Inclusion [39:06] Common traits of leaders [44:24] Leveling up and staying ahead of the curve [45:52] Parting words to listeners   Quotes: “To thy own self be true, you are enough, lean into who you are, recognize what that is and how valuable you are to the rest of the world.”– Melonie Parker “Leadership done well is servant leadership.” – Melonie Parker “Hiring is a two-way dialogue – what are you giving to a company and what are you getting back in return.” – Melonie Parker “Don’t only seek mentors that look like you. Mentoring is not about what fits you but what you need to add, stretch and grow.” – Melonie Parker “We might walk into a room and be the only one, but we always come with others, our community that always has our back.” – Melonie Parker “Have courage of voice. It empowers you when you take ownership of your ideas.” – Melonie Parker “What's the story that you’re telling yourself when you are sitting at the table, because if you go to the table, and know that your designed to be there, that conversation is enriched because you're in it.” – Melonie Parker “If we had representation at parity, across healthcare, education, all of these structures, we would see a huge difference.”- Melonie Parker   About Melonie Parker: Melonie Parker is an HR executive committed to innovative, relevant, and contemporary HR leadership. She is an advocate for change and a passionate thought leader. ​Parker is responsible f​ or advancing Google's employee engagement strategy across Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.​ Additionally, Parker serves as a Minority in Energy Initiative Champion for the Department of Energy. Prior to this role she served as the Vice President of Human Resources & Communications at Sandia National Laboratories. Parker was responsible for the leadership and Labs-wide management of human resources, health, benefits and employee services. She was also responsible for Sandia’s communication efforts, which include planning, strategy, executive communications, media relations, external branding, community affairs and internal communications. Prior to joining Sandia as the VP of HR and Communications, Parker extends expertise from a career spanning over 17 years in a variety of Lockheed Martin business areas, locations, and progressive leadership roles. During her time at Lockheed Martin, she has held responsibility ​for employee relations, staffing, EEO/Affirmative Action, diversity programs, compensation, benefits, and K-12 outreach initiatives. Parker received a B.A. in Mass Communications from Hampton University and an M.A. in Human Resources from Villanova University. She was named the 2016 HR Professional of the Year by the New Mexico Society of Human Resource Management. She was recognized with a Special Recognition Award at the 2014 Women of Color STEM Awards, and in 2012 graduated from Lockheed Martin’s Executive Assessment & Development Program.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melonieparker

Have you ever wondered why some organizations come up with game changing ideas while others struggle? What can leaders do to ignite creativity and spur innovation? What does it take to push for change and stand up for what you believe in? Our guest is award-winning leader and Chief Marketing Officer Lee Ann Daly, who shares how to build great teams and let good work happen. Throughout her career, Lee Ann has been a pioneer, who is not afraid to break rules or take risks. She is a passionate advocate for bold new ideas that excite people and keep brands relevant.  Lee Ann has been a C-suite leader at public and private companies since 1998–including being CMO at ESPN, Thomson Reuters, Game Show Network. Lee Ann has won wide industry recognition from Cannes Lions to being named Top Female Sports Business Executive by Sports Business Journal. Lee Ann is also an investor and advisor to early stage companies and Board director of the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and The Dean’s Advisory Board at IU’s Media School. Visit 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 Lee Ann.   Highlights: [02:15] What drives you [03:30] Lee Ann’s story [08:56] Listen, write, ideate [15:16] Lee Ann’s career journey [25:37] Overcoming self-doubt [30:41] Excelling and demonstrating success [33:58] Creating strong teams [40:37] Driving execution [44:16] Bringing your emotions to work [46:33] Vision for the future [50:19] Advice for success and self-care Quotes: “Being brave is being scared and doing it anyway.” – Lee Ann Daly “Whenever something comes into our consciousness that invites us to take a risk, it's there for a reason, it's coming to us as a gift.” - Lee Ann Daly “Leadership is helping your team understand how they contribute to the overall delivery of the service to the company.” – Lee Ann Daly “Growth is important at every stage of a career.” – Lee Ann Daly “Bring your authentic, separate self to work because it's the only way you'll figure out who you want to become inside the context of business.” – Lee Ann Daly    About Lee Ann Daly: Lee Ann Daly leads business strategy, content creation, marketing and communications for media entertainment, luxury and digital brands. Lee Ann’s aim is to create relevant culture in everything she do.  Lee Ann has been an Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, GM and C-suite leader at public and private companies since 1998. She has won wide industry recognition as well, ranging from Cannes Lions to being named Top Female Sports Business Executive by Sports Business Journal. Lee Ann is an investor and advisor to early stage companies and Board director of the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and The Dean’s Advisory Board at IU’s Media School.   Links: Website: https://leeanndalybio.me/ Podcast website: https://sayitforwardpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeanndaly/ Facebook: Lee Ann Daly Instagram: @boojumlad Twitter: @LeeAnnDaly