Having immigrated to the United States at a young age, Ileana Musa learned a lot about a strong work ethic and positive outlook. She grew up a dancer and loved the arts – and thought this is what she’d pursue as a career until her father stepped in and told her she should focus on finance and minor in dance. Fast forward to today, Ileana is the Co-Head of International Wealth Management and the Head of International Banking & Lending for one of the largest financial institutions in the world. She’s created a path for herself and shares with us the steps to forming win-win relationships that help us succeed too. Ileana is resourceful and always made do with what she’s had. She’s found the opportunities in life and believes you can change your own path at any time. She tells stories of how she’s connected with people and why sharing your own personal story and vision is vital for this connection. Ileana gives us insights on how to meet setbacks head-on and identify quick wins in order to keep forward momentum. Listen to this podcast if you’re struggling and want to find a new way of thinking or build relationships with the right people who can help you reach your goals.  Highlights:  [03:30] Ileana’s story [05:16] Decision to pursue a career in financial services  [07:40] Ileana’s daily success habits [10:10] Building your personal brand [17:42] Gaining access to influential leaders [23:30] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [29:43] Executing on your new opportunity [37:14] Advice on staying ahead of the curve   Quotes: “What’s the quality of your work when no one is watching?” – Ileana Musa “The more you share what drives you, the more connectivity you have with people around you.” – Ileana Musa “I will never throw in the towel because of a setback.” – Ileana Musa   About Ileana Musa: Ileana Musa is the Co-Head of International Wealth Management and the Head of International Banking & Lending. In this role she leads the segment and strategy that focuses on Morgan Stanley’s International Client Advisors and international clients to ensure they have access to strategic investment, cash management and lending solutions, services and thought leadership to address both sides of a client’s balance sheet. Ileana is a member of Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management Management Committee, Wealth Management Operating Committee, Latin America Management Committee, US Banks Management Committee, and the Bank Leadership Committee. Ileana co-chairs the enterprise Latino Employee Network.  Prior to joining Morgan Stanley she was the Global Client Segment and Strategy executive for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this capacity, Ileana focused on international financial advisors to ensure the delivery of a consistent, goals-based wealth management experience for international high-net-worth and ultra-high-net worth clients. Prior to this role, Ileana was head of International Credit & Banking within Bank of America’s Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM) Banking group. In this role, she led the teams that supported and delivered integrated liquidity, cash management and lending solutions and services to financial advisors and high-net-worth clients in Latin America, Asia and Europe.  Ileana held several leadership roles in the domestic, international and affluent banking platforms at Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, where she lent her talent in growing the cross-border wealth management business.  Ileana received her BBA degree, with a concentration in finance, from the University of Miami and an M.B.A. degree in finance from Florida International University. Ileana is fluent in Spanish, is FINRA registered and is Six-Sigma Greenbelt certified.  Ileana was recently named to the Girl Scouts National Board (GSUSA) and sits on the Corporate Advisory Boards of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), Florida International University Honors College and the Cuban Heritage Collection at the University of Miami.  Ileana was named to the ‘Top 100 Most Influential Latinas’ List in 2020 by Latino Leaders. Last year she was recognized to the 2019 MAKERS class of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management as well as being recognized by Latino Justice with the 2019 Latina Trailblazer Award honoring her professional and personal achievements in opening doors and new opportunities for other professionals. Additionally, Ileana was named to ALPFA’s 2019 Most Powerful Latinas in corporate America list for a third year in a row as previously featured in Fortune magazine. In 2016 Ileana was awarded the 2015 Top 10 Corporate Executives of the Year by Latina Style magazine.  Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ileanamusa3 

As a Latina in the C-Suite, Ana Corrales challenges herself to think big and to always contribute. She was an early entrepreneur—selling her handmade scrunchies to her classmates. And although she grew up in a STEM home, she found herself continuing to be interested in sales, so she shadowed a few sales people and realized the field wasn’t as easy as she thought. But, that didn’t stop her. Ana loves learning. As she describes, she finds a subject that interests her and she just “clicks, clicks, and clicks” online to find more information. Management observing Ana noticed that she could do a lot of things, and so they decided to move her into a management position herself. She has continued to work her way up to her current role as Chief Operating Officer for Google Consumer Hardware. In this role, a few mindsets makes her successful. First, she believes you need to be undeterred when pursuing your goals. Second, you need to be willing to be uncomfortable and do the things other people refuse to do because of fear. Her older sister once told her to consider, “What’s the worst that can happen?” She has taken that advice to heart and sometimes just fakes it until she makes it. Finally, Ana describes for us the importance of finding “white space,” which are those quiet moments when you can just allow yourself to think. She believes these moments have made her a better leader. For Ana, gardening gives her these moments. She savors any time she can get away from her devices and has also learned to say no and draw boundaries around her personal time. Ana has learned a lot through all of her experiences, and she shares those insights with us in this podcast. 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: “If you are passionate about what you do and you are contributing and really good, people will come to you and say, ‘Do you want to be part of my team?'’” – Ana Corrales “No one shows up looking amazing and totally relaxed all the time. There’s a lot of grit and you really need to want it.” - Ana Corrales “Get comfortable with the fact that you’re going to be uncomfortable.” - Ana Corrales “If you don’t have the narrative out there, there’s going to be a narrative about 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/ 

This year’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month from the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers is, "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation." With 62 million people and over 21 different cultures, Latinos/x are a unique combination of black, Asian, white, indigenous, Middle Eastern, and mixed races. When describing their identity, research shows that over half (51%) of Hispanics and Latinos/x say they most often use their family's country of origin – using such terms as Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran or Dominican. It's a cultural nuance, as most Latinos/x don't feel they fit under a "one umbrella" identity.  To build inclusivity in the workplace, leaders have an opportunity to drive a sense of belonging in the Latino/x community. In this episode, Monica Marquez (aka the “Macgyver for the Marginalized”) discusses how leaders can raise awareness and visibility to develop the next generation of future-ready leaders to go further faster, together. Highlights:  [2:22] Significance of Hispanic Heritage Month [6:26] Differences between Hispanic vs. Latino/x [9:42] Origin of “Latinx” [12:57] Embracing Hispanic and Latin/X terminology [14:54] Raising Latino/X visibility to develop the next generation   Quotes: “For the Hispanic and Latino/x community to move forward and get ahead, we have to go further, faster together as one inclusive familia. Some of us may think, won’t all of these different labels divide our community? Only if we let it.” - Monica Marquez "There are so many of my Latino/x colleagues I see doing amazing things. So let's lift each other up." -Monica Marquez “As my colleague, Frank Carbajal says, ‘Es tiempo to embrace Latinx’ - because you're embracing a new segment of the population that is identifying and saying they're proud Latinos/x with a strong Latinos/x origin. They want to recognize their roots, but they want a terminology that makes sense to them.” - Monica Marquez 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   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

The evidence is clear: women tend to be over-mentored and under-sponsored. While a mentor has knowledge and will share it with you, a sponsor has power and will use it for you. Meet Google’s Sharleen Gutierrez, a leading expert in diversity, equity and inclusion. Sharleen is the current Director of REWS Business Enablement Partners and has led teams focused on fairness and equity in Google’s talent processes. In this episode, Sharleen shares her story on how taking courageous leaps, even when she felt she wasn’t ready, paved the way to uncover her superpower. And, how her network of peers and mentors helped open doors to opportunities that accelerated her success.  She’s a strong believer in bringing together people with a wide variety of perspectives and experiences to get results. She prioritizes working on coaching and mentoring teams and developing talent. Sharleen is also a parent and shares with us her personal stories and the three things that help her juggle her priorities. 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 Sharleen.   Highlights: [02:25] Sharleen’s story [05:08] Career start at Goldman Sachs [08:17] How I landed in Diversity & Inclusion [11:17] The power of your community [16:00] How to think about networking [18:48] Discovering your superpower [22:05] Advice for career minded parents [26:58] Learning from failures and setbacks Quotes: “Shift your mindset to a place where you hold a higher value on the opportunity versus on how qualified you are for the job.” – Sharleen Gutierrez “Understand your networking style and consider how it works for you.” – Sharleen Gutierrez “Non-negotiables are very important for you to know and to serve as an anchor, as you’re determining your priorities.” – Sharleen Gutierrez “Know what your priorities are, commit to them, and then let go when things are not exactly the way you want them.” – Sharleen Gutierrez “Be mindful and approach life from a place of gratitude.” – Sharleen Gutierrez “Staying in the wrong role does not benefit anyone, it actually does a disservice to everyone involved.” – Sharleen Gutierrez “When thinking of success, keep human connection and interaction top of mind because it is people who create, develop, sell, implement. Whatever your business is, people are behind it.” – Sharleen Gutierrez “In this digital age, we have to remember the human aspects of our culture. And authenticity is a key component of that.” – Sharleen Gutierrez “Each one of us has to take responsibility for our own actions because how we show up is what cultivates company culture.” – Sharleen Gutierrez About Sharleen Gutierrez: Sharleen Gutierrez is a global thought leader on diversity and inclusion, talent management and culture change. She drives meaningful change towards greater fairness, equity and workplace inclusion in gender, race, LGBTQ+, ability and their intersections. She started her career at Goldman Sachs, where she spent 14 years in a variety of roles across the Human Capital Management Division. While at GS, one of her highly recognized achievements was pioneering the award-winning effort focused on women of color (before intersectionality was even a topic of conversation). Sharleen brings a global perspective on diversity, having lived and worked in Japan, and led D&I engagement initiatives in both South America and Europe. Recently, she led a team focused on fairness and equity in Google’s talent processes focused on systemic interventions and accountability measures that decrease gaps and increase parity. Currently, she serves as Google’s Director of REWS Business Enablement Partners. Sharleen was one of Diversity Woman Magazine’s top 50 change agents. In her spare time, she can be found exploring the world with her husband and three children. Links: LinkedIn: sharleen-gutierrez-7961741 Facebook: sharleen.gutierrez.3

There’s a reason why people say no one likes change. But for Kimberley Gardiner, Chief Marketing Officer at Tractor Supply Co, change is what she’s learned to thrive on and how she makes the greatest impact. Kimberley knows what it’s like to be the only woman in a room full of executive leaders, and she’s had to learn how to be authentic and boldly share her ideas, even if they were unpopular at the time. From being able to do this, she’s found more happiness and satisfaction from work than she could have imagined. Kimberley has a broad background in the automotive industry, previously having worked as SVP & Chief Marketing Officer for Volkswagen and Mitsubishi - and for Kia Motors America in marketing. She’s skilled at innovation and is a creative thinker. Her role as a change agent was a perfect fit for Volkswagen’s electric vehicles and the push for their adoption by the mainstream. In this podcast, Kimberley explains why leaders should be bold about asking for advice and tells us what she does every day that leads to her success. She also shares with us how to overcome failures, learn to say no, and what success habits helped her achieve her goals. 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 Kimberley. Highlights:   [02:53] Kimberley’s career journey [07:55] Embracing being a change agent [10:27] Managing your personal brand [13:24] Don’t be afraid to ask for advice [16:17] Building your board of personal directors [17:52] Kimberley’s daily success habits [22:50] Overcoming failures and setbacks [27:17] Executing and achieving your goals [31:48] Learning to say no [35:30] How to embrace change [40:08] Kimberley’s advice to our listeners Quotes: “You build business relationships like friendships, tell a little about yourself, ask for 5-10 minutes, and be very specific in your ask.” – Kimberley Gardiner  “When you encounter a failure, think about what you can learn from it rather than replaying the event over and over in your head. Put the record player away and move forward with the lesson.” – Kimberley Gardiner “Positioning success in terms of how it ladders up in the long term will help you be more successful in the short term.” - Kimberley Gardiner “By saying yes to everything you shortchange the things that are really important to you.”- Kimberley Gardiner  “The more you paint that picture early on, of what change can look like in the future, in a way that a person or team can relate to - saving you time, helping with turnover, achieving goals faster, and ultimately being more profitable, with a smaller footprint, the more people will be excited about the opportunity ahead.” - Kimberley Gardiner  About Kimberley Gardiner: Kimberley Gardiner, Chief Marketing Officer, Tractor Supply Company As the former Senior Vice President of Marketing & CMO at Volkswagen Group of America, Inc, Kimberley was responsible for leading brand marketing for VW, including building on the momentum generated by the introduction of Volkswagen’s first all-electric SUV, the ID. 4. Kimberley brings more than 20 years of automotive and marketing experience to her current role (joined Tractor Supply Co in July 2022). She recently served as the Chief Marketing Officer for Mitsubishi Motors North America and Kia Motors America, where she directed marketing efforts for the brand. Previously, she served as CMO and Vice President of Operations for 5th Kind, a global digital asset management company. She is known for being an innovative thinker with a passion for helping drive change in the automotive industry – a great fit for helping push for mainstream adoption of electric vehicles led by Volkswagen. Kimberley holds a bachelor’s degree from Mills College and an MBA from Indiana University. Links: LinkedIn: kimberley-sweet-gardiner

As a woman in leadership today, taking unconventional paths leads to more success. This means facing that challenge at work that everyone else is avoiding or putting yourself out on the line to make a tough decision. As a Senior Vice President at Publicis Sapient, Alyssa Altman leads the Automotive and Consumer Products industry in North America. She knows firsthand about shaping her company’s leadership. One way she’s done this is through a program called the Fellowship in Transformation Leadership which is an MBA-like series that is helping to mold Publicis Sapient’s next generation of managers.  Alyssa shares with us today how she builds solid teams that work together to accomplish their goals. She also talks about the importance of providing value to clients and always doing great work while still managing your career. She’s familiar with being the sole female leader in an organization and has many times had to find the courage to have that difficult conversation. Alyssa believes in learning from failure. She also believes in being authentic and looks for that quality in the people she hires. In addition, she looks for employees who aren’t afraid to make bold moves. Learn from Alyssa’s experiences and how she gained confidence as an impactful leader.  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 Alyssa.   Highlights: [03:37] Alyssa’s journey [09:03] Mastering managing at scale [11:19] Alyssa’s WHY [14:01] Doing great work AND managing your career [17:00] Being the only woman [19:44] Gaining the courage to have a difficult conversation [21:58] How to move your ideas forward [25:08] Evolution of effective business development [28:47] Approach to decision making [31:36] Learning from failure [39:24] Designing teams [41:18] Top trait for success [42:17] Common attributes of great leaders [46:26] What Alyssa wishes she had learned earlier in her career [47:48] Biggest trends that will impact business [53:17] The greatest joy of Alyssa’s career    Quotes:  “Leaders should not try to be everything to everyone, but instead build a team of people that feel empowered to take ownership and to tell you when they need you.” – Alyssa Altman “You always need to be in the work, because it gives you the perspective, it gives you the connection.” – Alyssa Altman “Don’t think of it as a sale, think of it as a partnership that you're helping to bring someone something they are going to see value in.” – Alyssa Altman “As a leader you need to find ways for people to feel like they're winning, even if you have a failure.” – Alyssa Altman “Acknowledge your successes and learn how to market them.” – Alyssa Altman  “Leaders are not afraid to make bold moves and make mistakes and then recover from those mistakes.” – Alyssa Altman  About Alyssa Altman: Alyssa Altman is a Senior Vice President at Publicis Sapient.  She leads the Automotive and Consumer Products industries in North America.  In her role, Alyssa helps her clients find their digital future through the delivery of omnichannel strategies and robust technology solutions. Throughout her 20+ years at Publicis Sapient, it has been her passion to shape and lead diverse teams who realize goals through inclusive collaboration. She believes that with the right people in the room actively engaging with each other, we gain valuable insights that create innovative solutions to any business problem we may face.  When not working directly with clients, she plays an active role in shaping and executing Publicis Sapient’s MBA-like leadership program called the Fellowship in Transformation Leadership.  Alyssa also has a keen interest in shaping the next generation of women leaders as an Advisory board member of Publicis Sapient Women’s Leadership Network (WLN). Externally, she is an Advisory board member of Debbie’s Treasure Chest and sponsors a community service initiative that teaches high-risk teens the skills necessary to enter the workforce. Alyssa was honored by Consulting Magazine as a “Global Leader in Consulting” for Excellence in Engagement. Prior to her tenure at Publicis Sapient, she worked for Ernst & Young in the Strategic Advisory Services Group. Alyssa has an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA in English from the University of Michigan.    Links: Website: https://www.publicissapient.com/ LinkedIn: alyssaaltmanpublicissapient  Facebook: alyssa.altman Twitter: AlyssaAltman Instagram: @altmanalyssa

Most of us know the stress of multiple commitments: family, work, relationships/marriage, domestic responsibilities, aging parents, special needs care, and the list goes on. Some or all of these factors can have a compounding effect on women in the workplace resulting in burnout. Today’s guest, Laura Pollock, shares her work-life journey and how approaching 50 opened her eyes. As a Founding Partner of Third Street Partners, a lot of her childrens’ youngest years coincided with growing her company. She shares stories with us of what she has learned along the way about mom guilt and raising three girls to be strong women. But most importantly, how having a great life partner (in Laura's case, her husband) helped her manage it all.  Laura believes in the power of having tough conversations and speaking up for yourself. She started her company with the mission of adding value to clients and continues with that motivation today. She can relate to the sacrifice many people have to make to further their careers. Finally, learn from Laura about her experiences working with her own mentors and the importance of nurturing your relationships. 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 Laura. Highlights:  [02:23] Working in a male-dominated industry  [05:51] How to handle questions you don’t know how to answer  [09:38] Knowing your value as you reach middle age  [11:28] Figuring out what you want to do when you grow up  [19:27] Making difficult decisions  [26:42] Dealing with mom guilt   [31:56] Identifying mentors  [43:45] Lightning round questions  Quotes: “The closer you get to 50, you realize that the top of the roller coaster really isn’t a steep drop.” – Laura Pollock “You should always stand up for yourself, no matter how uncomfortable.” – Laura Pollock “Your mentors help provide scaffolding, but scaffolding only works if you’re willing to let it surround you.” – Laura Pollock Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “The Rabbit LIstened” by Cori Doerrfeld What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  Happiness isn’t getting what you want, it’s wanting what you get. What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Fearless What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  I hired a housekeeper. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Respect” by Aretha Franklin About Laura Pollock: Laura is the founding partner of Third Street Partners and serves as a strategic advisor to leading asset management firms and their top performing executives. Leveraging over twenty years of asset management experience at both large firms and boutiques she built Third Street anchored in the industry’s best practices, her trusted relationships and exceptional network. She works with global investment management organizations to provide a hands-on, rigorous and collaborative approach to sourcing and retaining high-quality talent, including talent-related M&A activity for firms and in-house teams and sourcing front-office roles. Her mission with Third Street is to support clients’ long-term business and growth objectives through talent strategy advisory and execution. Before starting Third Street Partners in 2013, Laura was a partner at David Barrett Partners and was a senior member of the asset and wealth management practice at Russell Reynolds Associates in Boston and New York. Laura graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky. Links: Website: https://www.thirdstreetpartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapollock/

Who loves to hear feedback? Most people cringe the moment they hear someone has feedback for them. However, Mary Pryshlak, Senior Managing Director, Partner, and Head of Investment Research for Wellington Management, is one of the few people I’ve met who equates feedback to being a gift to help people grow. Mary has always been direct with giving feedback since she was a little girl and appreciates the same from others. She believes feedback is a valuable gift and uses it to better herself. That built Mary’s character and made her an impactful leader. Mary also isn’t afraid to ask others for help. She believes she can gain something from anyone she meets and has all kinds of mentors who teach her valuable lessons. Join us on this podcast as we listen to Mary’s stories about authenticity and building great relationships and a solid, supportive community.  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 Mary. Highlights:  [02:24] How Mary ended up in her current role in the financial industry [07:02] How Mary gained clarity about her career path [10:23] Pushing through fears to take advantage of opportunities [12:39] Overcoming setback  [16:34] Learning from feedback [20:31] Leveraging your community [23:53] Finding commonality to build relationships [26:08] How Mary built her circle through authenticity [29:14] Mary’s mentors [30:53] Lightning round questions Quotes: “Feedback is a gift.” – Mary Pryshlak “You can work hard, but you don’t always win.” – Mary Pryshlak “Self-reflection is a blessing and a curse.” – Mary Pryshlak “There is something you can learn from everyone.” – Mary Pryshlak Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders” by L. David Marquet What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “Dance like no one’s watching.”  What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Fierce What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Starting to run with my daughter and surrounding myself with the right people. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Fly From the Inside” by Shinedown   About Mary L. Pryshlak: Mary L. Pryshlak, CFA, is Senior Managing Director, Partner, and Head of Investment Research for Wellington Management. Mary leads a team of 130 investment research professionals who directly manage over $165 billion in client assets. These investment professionals conduct in-depth long term research and provide investment recommendations across Wellington’s global investment platform, which includes more than 900 portfolio managers worldwide. Mary’s team manages assets across a spectrum of strategies including hedge funds, sector funds and long only products. In aggregate, Mary’s team represents Wellington’s largest book of business for which Mary is the single point of accountability for investment performance and talent. Mary focuses on ensuring that Wellington is attracting, retaining, and motivating world-class securities analysts and investment talent; developing skills and capabilities that enable this world class team to globally connect the dots and evolve with a continually changing marketplace. Collaboration is a critical part of Mary’s philosophy and a hallmark of Wellington which is what enables the firm to identify future trends make informed investment decisions on behalf of clients. Prior to being named head of Investment Research, Mary was the director of Global Industry Research and previously spent 13 years as a global industry analyst covering property & casualty insurance stocks. Prior to joining Wellington in 2004, she was an equity analyst covering financial services at The Boston Company (2001 – 2003). Before that, she worked as an analyst at State Street Global Advisors (1995 – 2001) and held positions at Aeltus Investment Management Company (1994) and Spears Benzak Saloman and Farrell (1993 – 1994). Mary received her BA in economics and French from Rutgers College (1993). She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Association of Insurance and Financial Analysts (AIFA), the CFA Institute, and the CFA Society Boston. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-pryshlak-09748912/

Wendy Berger is a serial entrepreneur. For reasons she can’t even explain, Wendy grew up wanting to be president of a bank. Her journey has led her down the path to where she finds herself today as CEO and Founder of WBS Equities, LLC. Wendy used to always focus on the end result, but now she enjoys the journey. She learned this in part from the traumatic losses of her brother and then her husband three years later. Mary didn’t allow the tragedy of their deaths to go in vain, instead she learned and developed the strength and tools for the successes she acquired to date. In this episode, Wendy also shares with us her ideas around “big thinking” and the courage it takes to make significant moves in life and business. She’s a curious businesswoman who now focuses on real estate and the cannabis industry, for which she serves on an executive board. And, if that isn’t impressive enough, she is an avid athlete who has completed 38 triathlons! Take a few minutes to tune in  and learn the tips and tools Wendy regularly shares with her many mentees. 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 Wendy.   Highlights:  [02:31] Wendy’s journey to where she is today  [07:18] Pushing through fear and self-doubt [13:35] Tools Wendy uses to think big [20:47] How to ask others for help [25:56] How to have confidence and promote yourself [30:24] What to do when facing a difficult day [37:05] Advice Wendy gives her mentees [40:25] Lightning round questions   Quotes: “It takes retraining our minds to be courageous enough to let go of our fears.” – Wendy Berger “Big thinking precedes great accomplishments.” – Wendy Berger “Each day is focused on what am I doing to help other women succeed.” – Wendy Berger “Place yourself in the middle of interesting conversations.” – Wendy Berger Lightning Round Questions:   What book has greatly influenced you?  “Churchill and the Jews: A Lifelong Friendship” by Winston Churchill (and another great one about triathlons) What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” – Elie Wiesel  What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Curious What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  I stopped feeling my soul with food. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Steady Pull” by Jonatha Brooke or “Cool Change” by Little River Band   About Wendy Berger: Wendy is CEO and Founder of WBS Equities, LLC, a company she founded in 2004. WBS Equities specializes in ground-up construction, renovation, development, sale lease back transactions and acquisition of industrial buildings for food and beverage manufacturers and distributors. She has grown the business into a nationally recognized leader in this niche area within industrial real estate development and acquisitions. In addition to the firm’s focus on real estate development for food and beverage manufacturers and distributors, Wendy has over 30 years’ experience in real estate brokerage, real estate finance and structuring complex real estate transactions.  Wendy is also a serial entrepreneur. Outside of WBS Equities, LLC, Wendy brings decades of experience in strategic planning, execution, and exits for rapid growth start-ups. She loves being a part of the explosive growth phase of companies and working alongside founders to provide strategic leadership and guidance to help create dynamic and forward-thinking organizations.  Wendy serves on the Board of Directors of Green Thumb Industries, Inc. (GTI) (CSE: GTII) (OTC: GTBIF). Green Thumb is a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and retailer, is dedicated to providing dignified access to cannabis while giving back to the communities in which they serve. Green Thumb manufactures and distributes a portfolio of branded cannabis products including Beboe, Dogwalkers, Dr. Solomon’s, incredibles, Rythm and The Feel Collection. The company also owns and operates rapidly growing national retail cannabis stores called Rise™ and Essence. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Green Thumb has 16 manufacturing facilities, 75 retail locations, licenses for 111 retail locations and operations across 15 U.S. states. Established in 2014, Green Thumb employs over 4,000 people and serves thousands of patients and customers each year.  In 2000, Wendy was employee number 11 at Orbitz, the Travel web site founded by Continental, American, Northwest, Delta, and United Airlines. Wendy was Director of the Enterprise Planning at Orbitz and focused on strategic planning. Prior to Orbitz, Wendy co-founded and was COO of Neoglyphics Media Corporation in 1994, which was one of the country’s first web site development firms.  Wendy began her career at American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago (a subsidiary of First Chicago, now JP Morgan Chase) in Commercial Lending. Wendy spent several years as a principal with Berger Realty Group, an 80-year- old family-owned Real Estate business where she focused on residential and industrial property management and development.  Wendy earned her MBA in Finance and Real Estate from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business. She received a B.S., cum laude, in Finance and Marketing from Syracuse University. Wendy was a participant in the 2011 class of Leadership Greater Chicago. Wendy serves on the Board of directors of the Jewish Federation/Jewish United Fund of Chicago (2001 – 2007, and 2009 – present). Wendy served as the 2019 General Campaign Chair for the Jewish United Fund of Chicago and currently Chairs the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC). Wendy also serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Chicago Public Library Foundation Board (2016 – present). Wendy served on the Board of TEDxMidwest from 2010 - 2012. Other activities include the Wexner Heritage Program, Board Member Vice-President, and Membership Chair at The Standard Club of Chicago (1994 – 2004). Wendy is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and served as the chair of the Real Estate Membership Committee. In 2014, Wendy co-founded Illinois Women in Cannabis (IWC). IWC connects, educates, mentors, and supports Illinois women of all ages and backgrounds in order to maximize their opportunities in the emerging Illinois cannabis industry. In 2021 Wendy joined the Board of Directors of The Secure Community Network, the official safety and security network of the Jewish Community in North America.  Wendy is an avid Triathlete, having completed 39 Olympic distance triathlons and 13 half marathons. Wendy actively mentor’s young women, helping to guide them through the challenges of leadership and development. Wendy is a frequent speaker on Cannabis related real estate, industrial real estate, and the Cannabis industry and on Women’s leadership roles.   Links:   Website: https://wbsequities.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-berger-53157a10/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/wbsequities Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyaberger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendybshap 

From an early age, B. Pagels-Minor found the tech world to be an exciting place. And, driven by that excitement, they started from the ground up with a job in technical support. B worked their way through well-known companies like Apple and Netflix to work today for a Fortune 100 company. Though B. was always curious by nature, they didn’t quite know what options they’d have to pursue as they figured out, “What they wanted to be when they grew up”. recognized that they can learn how to do anything with focus. However, they also realized that it was easy for them to procrastinate.  So, in order to avoid procrastinating, B. made a point of always over delivering on their promises.  is authentic in everything they do. Their authenticity is vital in building community, which is extremely important to them. Join us in this fascinating discussion with B. A conversation that you wish wouldn’t end.  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 B. Highlights:    [02:11] B.’s journey to where they are today in the world of tech  [09:11] Being authentic and not putting yourself in a box [16:35] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [22:38] How B. shifted their mindset about themself  [26:42] Building a powerful community [33:32] Being concerned about your likability [37:56] Lightning round questions Quotes: “I’m very curious about how to create great experiences for people.” – B. Pagels-Minor “You can’t do anything well if you’re only spending 50% of your time on it.” – B. Pagels-Minor “Instant action creates the most success.” – B. Pagels-Minor Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “Inherit the Wind” by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “And now here’s my secret, a very simple secret, it’s only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.” - “The Little Prince” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Truth Teller  What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Trying to read one news article a day What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Queen” by Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu   About B. Pagels-Minor: Pagels-Minor is a speaker, fierce diversity advocate, and thought leader on product and culture development within technology companies. From Mississippi to Chicago to Silicon Valley, B. Pagels-Minor has spent over a decade creating great products for amazing brands and enriching the community around them, including working for Publicis Groupe, Sprout Social, and Apple to name a few. Today B. is an expert Product Management Leader, as well as a respected thought-leader in agile technologies. They approach every problem with strategy, curiosity, and genuine authenticity. As a dedicated enthusiast of sustainable processes, great products, and culture development, B.’s fierce drive to promote diversity in tech and impact real authentic change continues to define both their work and life outside of work. When there’s free time to spare, you can find B. scouring the latest financial and tech news, leading a thought-provoking personal blog, and giving back to various organizations as an active board member holding roles like the Vice Chair & Secretary on the Board of Directors at Howard Brown Health for the LGBTQ community, and Vice President & Secretary on the Board of Directors at the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago. B. currently resides with their wife in Los Angeles, California.   Links: Website: https://www.bpagelsminor.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bpagelsminor/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/bpagelsminor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bpagelsminor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bpagelsminor2/ 

With the looming recession, soaring inflation, rising interest rates, and compounding workplace stressors at an all-time high, BURNOUT is only worsening. What's worse is a recent global study indicates that for women and BIPOC women, their “everyday” workplace experiences are having a detrimental impact on their lives and careers, including work/life integration and wellbeing.  In this episode, we dig into what's happening and what we can do to help ourselves get through this.   Highlights:    [00:36] The reasons for burnout         [01:59] What the studies say about women and burnout [05:07] The definition of burnout        [07:09] Identifying burnout         [08:52] Importance of sleep        [10:52] Using play and creativity  to cope        [11:58] Taking time for yourself        [13:15] Ask yourself why you are burning out Quotes: “Burnout is a state of just complete exhaustion, but it’s prolonged stress. Stress and burnout are two different things.” - Monica Marquez “Let’s not make it taboo to talk about feeling stressed out to the point of burnout.”  - Monica Marquez “Sleep is nature’s greatest healer.”  - 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

September 11th was a defining moment for millions of people around the world. And for Maria Kim, it was just that. At that time, she was working in the insurance industry, but the impact of that tragic day made her want to work with purpose. She eventually found herself as President & CEO of REDF, focusing on creating jobs for others. The daughter of immigrants, she jokes her nurse mother and entrepreneur father made her a social entrepreneur determined to help others. In this podcast, Maria shares lessons learned from her wide variety of work experiences she describes as a “three-act play” in the areas of private, purpose, and now practice. Her path wasn’t always intentional but it was successful nonetheless and from that journey, she learned who she is and what she brings to the table. She is focused on fixing inequities in the workplace citing that even after all the work is done, 10 million people are still “boxed out of today’s economy.” We all have something we can learn from Maria’s unique insights. 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 Maria.   Highlights:  [02:15] Maria’s path to her current position [04:11] Finding your purpose [06:52] How she found herself working in the service industry [09:03] Taking a risk and stepping into the unknown [12:13] Discovering your strengths and learning new skills [13:50] Maria’s strength of building community [18:37] Bringing your unique skills to the table [21:49] How to make sure your talent stands out and overcoming stereotypes [25:19] Focusing on your goals [27:38] Work/life integration [30:55] Lighting round questions   Quotes: “You don’t have to be on the path you inherit. You can create your own path.” - Maria Kim “There’s something about listening to your inner you that I think gives you the courage to hustle you through those stages of working your way back up the ladder.” – Maria Kim “We just spent the last two plus years looking at everyone’s life through the screen of a Zoom room. We saw life in its full intersectionality—beautiful, ugly, everything in between, we saw all it, we saw kids, partners, everything. Let’s not forget what we saw.” – Maria Kim “There are 10 million people in our country that are boxed out of today’s economy, for a whole host of reasons that challenge the barriers they’re overcoming.” – Maria Kim   Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “Crying in the H Mart” by Michelle Zauner What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “We can be a work in progress and a masterpiece all at the same time.” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Fly foxy fish What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Seeking first to understand, then be understood. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Good as Hell” by Lizzo  About Maria Kim: Maria is a reformed insurance professional who describes the chapters of her career as private, purpose, and now practice: private sector in insurance, purpose sector at Cara Collective helping people experiencing homelessness and poverty get back to work, and now consultative practice at REDF – a pioneering venture philanthropy investing in businesses that exist to hire overlooked talent across the country.  Maria serves on the advisory boards of the First Women’s Bank and the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab. She is a 2008 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, a 2012 American Marshall Memorial Fellow, a 2018 Vital Voices Global Ambassador, a former co-chair within Chicago Mayor Lightfoot’s 2019 transition team, a 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholar, and a 2022 Distinguished Alumni in Public Service from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where she received her MBA.    A social impact enthusiast, advocate, and entrepreneur, Maria knows firsthand we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us; and our job – or more like our opportunity – is to pave the way for others to stand on ours. She writes about that journey as it relates to her time leading Cara in Voice and Vocation: A workforce practitioner’s guide to building hopes, jobs, and opportunity. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariasusankim/ https://twitter.com/mariasusankim Book: https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Vocation-workforce-practitioners-opportunity-ebook/dp/B093XZBGPV 

Lexi B didn’t grow up dreaming about working in the world of tech. In fact, she assumed anyone in the tech industry was skilled in coding, so a career in the tech world was just simply out of reach. So, imagine her surprise to now find herself in a Chief of Staff role for key leaders at Twitter. However, it is really no surprise that Lexi B forged her way into a leadership role. From an early age, Lexi has been a connector. Even as a freshman in her Stanford dorm, she realized that while her peers may not have important connections as 18-year-olds, their parents and relatives did. It was that moment that Lexi B discovered the power of community and her first networks were formed sparking her non-traditional path into Tech. Lexi’s a vibrant leader who believes in promoting others’s good work and providing them the tools to do their jobs well. Join us as we hear all about Lexi’s path and what earned her a leadership position at Twitter. 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 Lexi.  Highlights:  [02:24] Lexi B’s background and how she got into the tech industry [05:32] Lexi B’s definition of success starting out [07:50] Creating a personal brand [14:05) Overcoming limiting beliefs and fears [20:14] Getting help from mentors who don’t look like you  [25:33] How to ask people for help and to not feel like a burden [30:07] Staying authentic even in success and leadership guidance from mentors  [38:19] Habits and rituals that help in uncertainty [44:05] Lightning round questions Quotes: “Just because someone doesn’t look like you, or identify with you, whatever identity layer that is, does not mean they can’t pour into you in some capacity.”– Lexi B “Your career is not just your career, it is personal.” – Lexi B “If a bodyguard and a Power Ranger and a program manager and a strategy leader had a baby, that’s how I look at my job.” – Lexi B   Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou, “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight, and anything by Toni Morrison. What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  From my mom: “Do you boo.” From my dad: “All you have to do in this world is stay black and die.”  What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Candid, to a fault. What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  I got clarity on what I wanted to be when I grow up. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Rhythm Nation” by Janet Jackson and anything by Janelle Monáe. About Lexi B: 2020 WomenTech Network “Speaker of The Year” winner and one of Silicon Valley’s most candid and prominent voices, Alexandria “Lexi B.” Butler is an expert storyteller and workplace freedom fighter.  Her expertise in career growth and branding, executive leadership, and workplace equity have graced the world’s most enormous stages, including Stanford University, Anita B. Org’s Grace Hopper Celebration, Perspektywy Women In Tech Summit, Facebook, Instagram and many more. A program manager at one of the largest tech companies globally, she is  frequently tapped to share her thought-provoking advice and opinions on how to create a more equitable work environment.  In April 2017, Lexi B founded Sista Circle: Black Women in Tech. Today, it is one of the largest virtual communities of its kind to exist, boasting a 10,000+ membership of professional women from over 72 countries in tech and tech-adjacent careers. This international society has been nationally and locally recognized by Instagram, Youtube, Linkedin, Slack, Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, Phenomenally, The Ladders, Built-In, and more.  The Stanford graduate and St. Louis, MO native believes, “people deserve to live the life that caters to their strengths and passions. By truly understanding what they need and offer, everyone can implement tools to realize their path and thrive.” She shares her reflections and views on social media at @lexibspeaks. Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexibspeaks/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexiBSpeaks  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexib/ Website: https://www.lexib.com/ 

How did you decide what you wanted to be when you grew up? Some of us are still trying to decide. Things don’t always go as planned, especially when it comes to our careers. Whether we were looking to get promoted, change jobs, or transition into a new role — being curious and taking risks is part of growing professionally. For this podcast, Robyn Shepherd, Partner and Head of Corporate Engagement at Bridgewater Associates tells us about her risk-taking experiences and making her voice heard. She also tells us about how to ask for the help you need to succeed.  Robyn grew up with an exposure to a great education but lacked awareness for the vast possibilities it could take her in her career. As she grew in her professional life, she understood that she needed to prepare to seize the moment when opportunities unexpectedly came her way. She feels it is as important to know what you don’t want to do as it is to know what you do want to do and be aware of what you’re passionate about. Success involves building great professional relationships and the best way to make those connections is being authentic–something Robyn is known for. Her positive energy will lift you up and give you ideas on how to take a new path at work. 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:  [02:22] Robyn’s journey [10:10] Stepping into new opportunities with courage [13:28] How to make important decisions [16:25] Creating opportunities and forging your own path [19:22] How to locate the decision makers [21:45] Making sure your voice is heard [24:15] Habits and hacks for think time [26:09] The importance of realizing what you don’t want to or can’t do [30:18] The vital role of community, advocates, and mentees [35:29] Asking for help [40:21] Looking for an advocate [43:42] Being authentic about building professional relationships [45:58] Lightning round questions Quotes: “When you don’t know what you want to do, do the hardest thing you can so that you’re set up when opportunity comes knocking.” – Robyn Shepherd “Preparing for the worst isn’t the only thing, it’s also about imagining the opportunity.” – Robyn Shepherd “Saying yes to something means you are saying no to something else.” – Robyn Shepherd Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “The Daily Stoic” by Ryan Holiday What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself?” - Epictetus, Greek Stoic Philosopher What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Tough What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  When my kids get home from school, I do everything I can to not be working and having half-hours of transition.  What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa  About Robyn Shepherd: Robyn Shepherd joined Bridgewater Associates in 2004 and is currently the Head of Corporate Engagement. Reporting to the CEO, Robyn oversees the firm’s public affairs, communications and branding functions, as well as the company’s initiatives for operational sustainability, social responsibility, and plays a leading role in Bridgewater’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts. She is a Partner of the firm and a member of the Operating Committee and Commercial and Business Strategy Committee. Robyn began her career at Bridgewater as a Senior Investment Associate in the Account Management group and later took on other key roles within the firm’s Client Service and Marketing team — first as an Associate Client Advisor covering the firm’s international client and marketing relationships, and later as the Head of Client Service Analytics. Subsequently, Robyn served as Chief of Staff to CEO David McCormick, partnering with him on the firm’s strategic agenda, business oversight, management of the Client Service and Marketing department, and corporate governance. Robyn was a founding member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, and the Co-Founder and Senior Sponsor of Bridgewater’s Women’s Influence Network (WIN). She was recognized by The Hedge Fund Journal as one of the “50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds” in 2020, and was named the 2021 “Women of Excellence: Trailblazer” by Seramount, in partnership with Working Mother and the National Association for Female Executives. Before joining Bridgewater, Robyn was an Analyst at Lime Rock Partners and an Investment Analyst at HarbourVest Partners. She serves on the boards of Susan G. Komen and Oakland Catholic High School, an all-women’s college preparatory school in Pittsburgh, PA. Robyn received her BA in economics from Brown University. Links: Website: https://www.bridgewater.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-shepherd-a959985/ 

Do you worry about being liked by others? Do you hold back from what you really think or want for fear of upsetting others? The desire to be liked, whether it’s right or wrong, has a critical relationship to power. The characteristics we tend to “expect or accept” in women like modesty and humility are not the qualities that get professional recognition. Which is unlike the qualities that society likes to see in men such as self-confidence and assertiveness. These are the qualities that get talent ahead in their careers. However, women who are self-confident and assertive usually experience pushback for breaking the social norm.  The bitter reality is that no matter how hard you try, there will always be people out there who don’t like you. Learning to be okay with that is hard work, but you’ll like yourself so much more for it and have a more fulfilling career. Meet our guest, Amber Chenevert, Group Director of Strategy & Insights and Culture Studio Lead at VMLY&R, who is familiar with these roadblocks herself. Her parents raised her not to worry about being liked but rather to treat everyone fairly–and that has earned her respect at work. As an expert in marketing and building brands, she allows herself to be challenged. She has always been a deep thinker and described as wise beyond her years. Join us as she shares and teaches us about setting boundaries, living out your purpose, and giving people opportunities to tell their stories. 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 Amber. Highlights:  [01:19] How Amber found what she wanted to do for a living [06:58] Dealing with insecurities, fears, and limiting beliefs [11:12] Building a personal brand and storytelling [14:57] Moving forward with what you truly believe  [15:36] Being fair vs. being liked [19:37] The difficulty of self-promotion [24:24] The importance of think time and journaling  [27:28] Setting boundaries with other people [29:54] The importance of community [36:18] The book that has greatly influenced Amber [37:50] Amber’s favorite quote [38:55] One word Amber would use to describe herself [39:57] One habit that has changed Amber’s life [42:06] Amber’s power song Quotes: "I have prioritized fairness." –Amber Chenevert “‘Do the work, put your head down and people will notice’, is just not true. You have to do the work and you have to be seen.” –Amber Chenevert “Don’t judge a book by its cover, even if it’s beautiful.” –Amber Chenevert Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  Always believe and invest in yourself. What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Perseverance What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Taking rest seriously. Rest is multi-dimensional and I have to prioritize it and engage in so many different aspects of it in order to be whole and healthy. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “All the Stars” by Kendrick Lamar About Amber Chenevert: Amber Chenevert, PhD Group Director, Strategy & Insights; Culture Studio Lead Amber Chenevert’s mix of academic and agency experience gives her a unique perspective on brand strategy that empowers clients to embrace fresh ways to engage consumers and champion industry inclusion. Her global CPG and health technology experience showed her that customer basic needs around the world are quite similar. While her culture acumen allows her to identify nuance that helps marketing messages stick. Amber holds a B.S. in marketing from Hampton University, and a M.A. in advertising from Syracuse University.  She earned her doctorate in advertising from The University of Texas at Austin, specializing in consumer behavior and marketplace diversity. Amber has taught both undergraduate and graduate marketing and advertising courses at The University of Texas at Austin, St. John’s University and New York University.   As a brand strategist and the Culture Studio lead at VMLY&R,  her goal is to tell human centered stories based on atypical truths. She wants to give more people the opportunity to both tell and be at the center of those stories. A marketplace diversity perspective serves as a guiding light toward her goal. Marketplace diversity considers age, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, and physical ability. It also considers the history, systems, and structures that gives insight into how today’s consumers navigate their access to products, services and assert their collective power. Using marketplace diversity as a base, Amber helps brands unearth their disconnect in culture and find their connection to new market opportunities. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-chenevert-phd-027a4b1/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskDrC_PhD 

Ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when they expect more of themselves. That’s the message from our guest, Keisha Bell, who has overcome obstacles and achieved extraordinary success by ignoring the doubts and doubters.  Keisha Bell is the Managing Director and Head of Diverse Talent Management and Advancement at DTCC where she is responsible for developing the next generation of leaders through focused sponsorships and talent advancement strategies.  Keisha understands what it takes to go beyond barriers. She believes in changing mindsets, forging progressive practices, and views each employee as an agent of change. Keisha says that the role of a leader is to make decisions that move things forward. Her secret is to never overcomplicate things and to keep it simple. While it’s important to seek trusted feedback, eventually, a choice needs to be made. That’s why sometimes, the most important decision you can make is just making a decision. So if you’re feeling stuck and overwhelmed with options, remember that unless you’re a surgeon, there is “no patient on the table”, just make the decision! In this episode, Keisha tells us about her career path, what helped her achieve her goals, and why it’s important to find joy in everything you do.   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 Keisha.  Highlights:  [02:15] Biggest lessons learned  [03:15] Overcoming underestimating yourself  [04:55] How Keisha’s career path unfolded  [07:06] From college to current role - coming full circle [10:19] Advice on find clarity in your career path [13:22] Keisha’s framework for decision-making  [16:01] Overcoming limiting beliefs  [18:24] Most pivotal lessons learned from family of strong women [21:26] The importance of creating opportunities for others [20:34] The difference that access makes early on in life [26:29] Continuous learning and growth  [28:42] Developing valuable relationships  [30:27] Keisha’s approach to effective execution  [33:19] Staying grounded [31:47] Lightning round questions   Quotes: “Be intentional about where you direct your energy and skill set and let people know what you are capable of.” - Keisha Bell “Show up, be authentic, be accountable, do the right thing and act ethically.” - Keisha Bell “You have to be ruthlessly honest with yourself about what you’re good at.” – Keisha Bell “You don’t have a patient on the table. No one is going to die if you don’t do this right.” – Keisha Bell Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “The Warmth of Other Suns”  by Isabel Wilkerson What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “If you want to fly, you have to give up the sh*t that weighs you down.” and “Dream a little before you think.” By Toni Morrison What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Fierce What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Working on negative self-talk What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan About Keisha Bell: Keisha Bell is Managing Director and Head of Diverse Talent Management and Advancement at DTCC, where she is responsible for recruiting and retaining the best diverse talent and developing DTCC’s next generation of leaders through focused sponsorships and talent advancement strategies. She believes in changing mindsets, forging progressive practices, and views each employee as an agent of change. Keisha partners with business leaders to identify diverse talent across all levels of the organization focusing on their growth and mobility, and with Human Resources to ensure diversity and inclusion are fully integrated into working practices. Additionally, Keisha leads Corporate Philanthropy and Social Responsibility for DTCC. Previously, Keisha was Managing Director of DTCC’s Risk Management Reporting, Governance, Analysis and Program Management group. She successfully led the firm’s Board and Management Risk Committees, regulatory, audit and compliance reporting, management control testing, and program management of the Financial and Technology Risk initiatives. Prior to that, she served as Executive Director of Wealth Management Services. She was also a member of DTCC’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Council and a founding leader of the LGBTQA professional network. Keisha serves as a member of the board of directors of The NYC Anti-Violence Project and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Partnering for Racial Justice in Business initiative. Keisha has been named to the World Federation of Exchanges’ 2021 Women Leaders List and to the 2021 OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Model List of 100 business leaders for her impact on LGBT+ inclusion inside and outside the workplace, her business achievements, and the seniority and influence of her role. She also represented DTCC at The Alliance, an inaugural gathering of the influential LGBTQ leaders held in Lisbon, Portugal. Keisha has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, spanning broker/dealer operations, technology transformations, program management and business analysis. She earned her B.S. in Organizational Behavior from New York University.  Keisha has received the following awards: 2021 World Federation of Exchanges Women Leaders List 2020 OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models - Top LGBT Executives Links: Website: https://www.dtcc.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keishabell/ 

Strong leadership is rooted in intellectual curiosity about how things work and what drives people. But how do you build relationships and find your voice when you are an introvert?   Our guest, Shifra Ansonoff, a brilliant leader and an introvert, reveals what helped her reach the top of her industry and build a powerful professional network. Shifra believes the key is caring about people and helping them achieve their goals, rather than focusing on what you can get from them. When you follow your curiosity, you will find your way to success whether it’s with relationships or results.  Shifra followed her passions even as a young mom of twins, and with the help of her supportive husband, has become a global leader in her industry. She loves helping people find their voices and seeing where curiosity takes her.  Today, Shifra is the Global Head of Research at Preqin, carrying the remit of obtaining valuable data and insights on alternative assets contributing to the industry’s most comprehensive private capital and hedge fund data sets. Previously, Shifra was with Qontigo, BlackRock Solutions and Bloomberg.  In addition to being a top executive, Shifra has been an active mentor at Rutgers Business School, for which she received a Mentorship Excellence Award in 2018 and was shortlisted by Waters Technology’s Women in Technology and Data Awards for Risk Professional of the Year. She is a proud life-long nonconformist who has a lot of stories to tell us about how to build great relationships and lead a team. 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 Shifra. Highlights:  [02:20] Shifra’s formation story [04:37] Figuring out the right path forward  [06:06] Shifra’s career journey  [09:56] Stepping into the unknown [12:02] Overcoming fears & limiting beliefs  [14:39] Speaking up and sharing your perspective  [18:48] Staying ahead of the curve  [21:10] Focusing on the right thing at the right time  [23:15] Self care on a daily basis  [24:42] The key to building great relationships [26:22] Advice for introverts  [28:43] Lightning round questions Quotes: “I believe mentorship sponsorship should be a two-way street, and when it isn’t or it becomes transactional, it’s no longer fun.” – Shifra Ansonoff “I’ve built such meaningful relationships through the years in business and across groups of friends by just letting people know that I’ve been thinking about them.” – Shifra Ansonoff Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “Give and Take” by Adam Grant What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  Learning to love myself and not being my own worst critic. What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Nonconformist What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Learning cognitive strategies that put me in control of situations. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  "Invincible" by Pat Benatar   About Shifra Ansonoff: Shifra is the Global Head of Research at Preqin, carrying the remit of obtaining valuable data and insights on alternative assets via conversations with GPs and LPs, thus contributing to the industry’s most comprehensive private capital and hedge fund data sets. A 20+ year veteran of fintech, Shifra has acquired expertise in risk management, product and relationship management, and data governance.  Previously, Shifra led the global operations team for the analytics solutions division at Qontigo (previously Axioma). Prior to, Shifra was with BlackRock Solutions and Bloomberg. Shifra has been an active mentor at Rutgers Business School, for which she received a Mentorship Excellence Award in 2018 and was shortlisted by Waters Technology’s Women in Technology and Data Awards for a Risk Professional of the Year award. She holds a bachelor’s in Economics from Sarah Lawrence, and an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University. Links: Website: https://www.preqin.com/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shifra-ansonoff-274ab46/

Twenty years ago, when I first came to America, I felt like a complete outsider. I didn't look like, sound like, or dress like people around me. I chased goals that I didn’t really care about because I thought that’s what was expected of me. But the harder I tried to fit in, the more I struggled personally and professionally. You see, I was defining success from other people’s perspective. Our guest today is US Congresswoman Sharice Davids, from Kansas’ Third Congressional District, who shares her inspiring story of overcoming obstacles and rising to the top by defining success on her own terms.  Sharice was raised by a single mom who spent more than 20 years serving in the US Army. A proud graduate of Leavenworth High School, Sharice was the first person in her family to attend college. She worked her way from Johnson County Community College to Cornell Law School, juggling multiple jobs to put herself through school. Sharice went on to work in economic and community development on Native American reservations, helping tribes to create programs and initiatives for growth. This work inspired her to apply for the prestigious White House Fellowship program, where she served under President Barack Obama and continued to create economic opportunity for others. Sharice ran for Congress to give Kansans a voice, and to make sure everyone has the same opportunities to achieve their goals that she did. In 2018, Sharice was elected to represent Kansas’ Third District, becoming one of the first two Native American women ever to serve in Congress.  In 2020, she was re-elected to her second term. She has spent her time in office working tirelessly to tackle the issues most important to Kansas families, including strengthening small businesses, lowering the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, and making sure the government is working for the people — not special interests. In this episode, Rep. Davids shares her perspective on why it's important to first embrace who you are for others to embrace and accept you as you are. She also shares why service matters, how to build a thriving community, and what strategies helped her achieve her goals. 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 Rep. Davids.    Highlights:  [03:57] What shaped Representative Davids’ life[09:22] Gaining clarity on your career path[12:50] How Representative Davids got into politics[15:31] First time running for office[24:18] Facing the possibility of failure[26:52] Campaigns are entrepreneurial[29:22] Owning her seat at the table[35:23] Advice to other on pursuing a career in politics[41:36] How to engage with Representative Davids[43:07] The meaningful work of LPAC Quotes: “When dealing with rejection on the campaign trail, I had to remind myself that  this is not about me, this is about the future of our country, our democracy.” - Rep. Sharice Davids “The biggest opportunities for growth come from moments when you are experiencing something that is hard and challenging.” - Rep. Sharice Davids "Running a campaign is a very entrepreneurial process." - Rep. Sharice Davids  "One thing that changed my life was realizing that I get to decide what success means to me." - Rep. Sharice Davids About Sharice Davids: Sharice Davids is currently serving Kansas’ Third Congressional District in Congress. Sharice was raised by a single mom who spent more than 20 years serving in the US Army. A proud graduate of Leavenworth High School, Sharice was the first person in her family to attend college. She worked her way from Johnson County Community College to Cornell Law School, juggling multiple jobs to put herself through school. Sharice went on to work in economic and community development on Native American reservations, helping tribes to create programs and initiatives for growth. This work inspired her to apply for the prestigious White House Fellowship program, where she served under President Barack Obama and continued to create economic opportunity for others. Sharice ran for Congress to give Kansans a voice who represents our values and interests, and to make sure everyone has the same opportunities to achieve their goals that she did. In 2018, Sharice was elected to represent Kansas’ Third District, becoming one of the first two Native American women ever to serve in Congress. In 2020, she was re-elected to her second term. She has spent her time in office working tirelessly to tackle the issues most important to Kansas families, including strengthening our small businesses, lowering the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, and making sure the government is working for the people — not special interests. Sharice was raised by a single mom, who spent more than 20 years in the Army followed by a career in civil service at the US Post Office. Sharice graduated from Leavenworth High School. She attended Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas before graduating from Johnson County Community College and later the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She went on to earn a law degree from Cornell Law School. Sharice calls herself a “former” first generation college student, since her mom earned a degree in history from UMKC in 2016. Sharice is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, a Native American tribe in Wisconsin. Sharice is highly trained in martial arts and has competed as both an amateur and professional in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Sharice was one of 16 selected to participate in the prestigious White House Fellowship program (2016-2017). Sharice has lived and worked on Native American reservations, working with tribes to create economic development opportunities, programs, and initiatives. Sharice regularly speaks at conferences as a nationally recognized expert on economic and community development in Native communities. Sharice, along with her brother, created Starty Pants – a video podcast that highlights entrepreneurs in the Greater Kansas City area with a focus on women, people of color and LGBTQ founders. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharicedavids/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShariceDavids

Do you have trouble knowing when to say no or being authentic in your everyday life at work? Many of us spend a significant amount of time devoted to our jobs, and if we aren’t honest about ourselves and our situations, we add stress to our already full lives. A rewarding work-life involves authenticity, tapping into our passions, and finding the right support. Theresa Ludvigson is the Senior Vice President of People at Qualified, the #1 pipeline generation platform for Salesforce, where Theresa previously held multiple management positions. A natural people person, Theresa, is keenly aware of what makes a great manager and loves helping and coaching others. In this episode, she enthusiastically shares stories from her past experiences. She discusses the challenges of learning new skills when switching jobs and the importance of staying true to who you are. You’ll love her honesty, optimism, and electrifying energy.   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 Theresa. Highlights:  [02:22] Theresa’s career path[04:46] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs[10:09] How to ask others for support[13:20] Tapping into your passion[15:59] Staying ahead of the curve[18:15] Knowing your limits and saying no[21:02] Leading by example[22:36] How to integrate work with life[25:25] Finding mentors & building relationships[28:20] Finding clarity and direction in the workplace[31:22] Creating and promoting your personal brand[33:16] Lightning round questions[37:46] Where to find Theresa online Quotes: “Simply asking ‘Hey, how can I support you?’ opens up the door and allows an individual to share how you can best help them.” – Theresa Ludvigson “Leading with transparency and authenticity is key.” – Theresa Ludvigson Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” - Oprah Winfrey What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? So Glam What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Caffeine to fuel my energy. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani About Theresa Ludvigson: Theresa Ludvigson is the Senior Vice President of People at Qualified, the #1 pipeline generation platform for Salesforce. She joined the company in January of 2022 and leads Qualified's overall people experience strategy, which includes talent acquisition, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, compensation and benefits, HR operations and technology, and employee relations. Under her leadership, she’s created a team of employee-focused culture champions that touch every point of the employee lifecycle, and help Qualified employees feel empowered to do their best work while inspiring each other to learn and grow. Prior to Qualified, Theresa led global new hire onboarding, employee loyalty programs, and the alumni network as Vice President, Global Onboarding and Loyalty Programs at Salesforce. She also held positions in Talent Development, Employee Engagement, Sales Effectiveness, Customer Marketing, and Sales while at Salesforce.  Theresa holds degrees in Journalism and Ethnic Studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her two sons. Links: Website: https://www.qualified.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tludvigson/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/tludvigs 

Everyone faces fears. But, what some people do better than others is pushing through that fear to get to the other side of it. In our work and personal lives, we make a lot of decisions on a daily basis, and some of those decisions impact other people. How do we stay on track and focus on accomplishing our goals when we face these challenges? Our guest, Dr. Kerry Murphy Healey is the inaugural president of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream in Washington, DC. In this episode, she candidly shares stories with us about her two failed runs for office which led to her winning the position of Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts—a much higher position than she originally sought out. Dr. Healey had to overcome a lot about fears of being on stage and on television, but overcoming those fears led to new opportunities. Dr. Healey is full of actionable advice and pearls of wisdom about how to succeed at work and in life. 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 Kerry. Highlights:  [02:26] Kerry’s journey [07:46] How Kerry overcame her fears and limiting beliefs [10:31] How to reframe failure and what failure teaches you  [14:27] Making decisions without creating division [17:25] Going where your skills are needed [22:52] Identifying mentors and sponsors  [25:02] Building strategic relationships, building communities, and asking for help [28:33] Showing people what you have to offer  [30:05] Leveraging self-promotion   [32:27] Kerry’s goals for the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream [34:26] Lightning Round Questions [39:01] How to get in touch with Kerry Quotes: “Forcing myself repeatedly to do things that were uncomfortable and that scared me, is what helped me learn to take off all the edges and just do whatever I needed to do.” – Dr. Kerry Healey “When you decide, you allow for a conversation, because it’s very hard to have that conversation unless someone has a point of view.” – Dr. Kerry Healey “You can’t really join a community and say ‘What is this community going to do for me?’ You have to put something into that community first.” – Dr. Kerry Healey   Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “I never lose, I only win or learn.” – Nelson Mandela What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Optimistic What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Sleeping and learning to make time for sleep. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Take Me to the River” by The Talking Heads About Kerry Healey: Dr. Kerry Murphy Healey is the inaugural president of the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream in Washington, DC. Kerry Healey’s career spans higher education, elected office, and foreign and domestic policy. In July 2019, she capped six years as the first woman president of Babson College, the 100-year-old business school consistently ranked as the country’s leading institution in entrepreneurship education. During her tenure at Babson, Healey championed women entrepreneurs, created greater affordability and access for students, and oversaw a dramatic $200 million renewal of the Wellesley campus. Previously, Healey served as Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor, where she led bipartisan efforts to improve services for the homeless, tackle the opioid crisis, and increase protections for victims of child abuse, drunk driving accidents, and sexual and domestic violence. She was also integral in crafting the state’s pioneering health care reform legislation. Dr. Healey has been a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Institute of Politics and Center for Public Leadership, and is on the International Council of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. She holds an AB in government from Harvard College and a PhD in political science and law from Trinity College, Dublin. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission and a trustee of the American University of Afghanistan. Links: Website: https://www.mcaad.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrymurphyhealey/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-healey-1626701b4/