Get ready to be inspired by Dr. Virnitia Dixon, a powerhouse in the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion. With a background in insurance and strategy, Virnitia has spent her career helping organizations extract potential and build high-performing teams. After realizing her true passion for people and culture, she pursued her doctorate in organizational leadership and later transitioned into her current role as Chief Diversity Officer at Santander. Virnitia's unique approach to DEI emphasizes the power of human connection and community, making her a key voice in the industry. Dr. Dixon introduces and discusses the SAM model (Sponsorship, Advocacy, and Mentorship), explaining that each element carries its distinct importance in career advancement. Through mentorship programs focused on skill development, career and cultural navigation in advocacy, and social capital investment in sponsorship, individuals can maximize their opportunities for growth and success. Don't miss the chance to learn from her insights on continuous growth and success in today's world, taking risks and leading with passion and purpose to create human connections and bridge the gaps in our society. Visit gobeyondbarriers.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 Virnitia. Highlights: [02:38] Virnitia’s background [08:10] Weighing risk vs. reward and saying yes [10:45] Continuing to learn [14:38] Building a community [18:31] Finding mentors and sponsors [23:43] Accepting feedback and listening to others’ truth about you [28:52] Mindset and tapping into your authentic self [32:14] Introspection and learning about yourself [35:33] Lightning round questions Quotes: “Building bridges between people is the core of inclusion.” – Dr. Virnitia Dixon “For me to be authentic and vulnerable, and share with you who I am, it opens the floor for you to do the same, and that’s how we create community.” – Dr. Virnitia Dixon “The time in contemplation with oneself really helps us connect with others.” – Dr. Virnitia Dixon Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Good is Not Enough: And Other Unwritten Rules for Minority Professionals” by Keith R. Wyche What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - Good better best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best. What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Blessed (and privileged to serve) What is one change you've implemented that made your life better? - Understanding it’s the journey and not the destination. Knowing myself. Having a balance of confidence and humility. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - "Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield About Dr. Virnitia Dixon: Dr. Virnitia Dixon is the Chief Diversity Officer and Head of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office at Santander US. Prior to joining Santander, Dr. Dixon was an executive coach and consultant working with Fortune 500 senior executives to transform corporate culture through leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her background is primarily in financial services, where she previously held roles as a Corporate VP of Strategy for New York Life and VP of Operations for Travelers Property Casualty. Dr. Dixon is an Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC) certified professional coach and holds a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix, a Masters of Business Administration in Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, both from the University of Hartford. A world traveler, patent-holder, speaker, and innovator, Dr. Hendricks is most proud of her work in the community where she supports charities focused on ensuring basic human needs. Dr. Dixon's life mission is "to be a blessing to the lives of many, one person at a time." Links: LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-virnitia-j-hendricks/

As a former Division 1 basketball captain, Jennifer learned leadership and resilience, skills she took with her as she pursued her law degree and eventually, her career in financial planning. Starting out as an advisor to others, Jen eventually formed, ran and sold her very successful practice. She is now the Chief Experience Officer and Partner at WestPoint Financial group, one of the largest advisory firms in the midwest. Jennifer loves to solve problems and she loves getting to know the people she works with, mostly so that she can help them succeed. In this podcast, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and managing your emotions at work. She talks about how vital patience and resilience are to being a good employee. But Jennifer’s ultimate superpower? Her competitive nature. She says her athletic background has helped her deal with the complexity of her career. On a personal note, Jennifer has had challenges with her health that led her to making self-care a priority. She balances pushing herself and meeting her goals with getting plenty of sleep and exercise. She doesn’t really believe in work/life balance but rather finding a perfect imbalance. This podcast is a wealth of insight and inspiration we’ve just touched on here, so join us as Jennifer shares her wisdom with us in this podcast. Highlights: [03:35] Jennifer’s professional timeline [07:28] What she’s learned at work to be a better mom [08:24] Lessons learned [11:51] What to do when you get knocked down [13:27] Her super power: competitiveness [15:19] Division 1 background in basketball [18:18] Great advice about being an introvert [19:50] Importance of community [22:31] The key to gaining clarity about career [24:23] Being goal oriented [26:15] What she wants her kids to know [28:53] Jennifer’s daily habits [30:11] Taking risks [31:37] Forming a personal cabinet [33:46] Modern communication and relationships [35:50] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [38:42] A typical day in Jennifer’s life [41:51] Finding mentors and sponsors [45:24] Looking back and moving forward [48:04] Lightning Round Questions Quotes: “I always think, what else can we do better?” – Jennifer des Groseilliers “Community develops over time because you have common interests and common activities you want to do together.” – Jennifer des Groseilliers “I have discovered for myself there is no work-life balance. There’s just perfect imbalance at any given time.” – Jennifer des Groseilliers Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Fast. Feast. Repeat.” by Gin Stephens What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - "Left foot, right foot, breathe, repeat." Pat Summitt What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Competitive What is one change you've implemented that made your life better? - Intermittent fasting. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - "No Roots" by Alice Merton About Jennifer des Groseilliers: Jennifer des Groseilliers has achieved many of her life goals, yet she has found her greatest success in helping others. A lawyer, award-winning financial service provider, wife, mother of three, and former Division 1 basketball captain, Jen is most proud of knowing that she has motivated and inspired others to succeed. After practicing law for three years, Jen was drawn to financial planning as a way to make a positive impact on people’s lives. In 2001, she joined Ameriprise and discovered that her legal training provided her with keen insights into financial markets, tax ramifications of financial decisions, and financial planning strategies. She quickly distinguished herself as a top financial advisor. The coaching and motivational skills she discovered as an athlete translated to business, and soon she was helping other advisors achieve similar success. Fast-forward to today, Jennifer is now a Partner at WestPoint Financial Group (WPFG). She leads the Investment Department, Compliance, Practice Development and Financial Planning. Jen is also the owner of Comprehensive Financial Concepts (CFC), which is a Property and Casualty specialty company located in the greater Chicagoland area. Her experience as CEO & General Agent of Mass Mutual Illinois Agency, helped propel her into her current role when three independent financial services firms operating as general agencies of MassMutual announced they merged to into WestPoint Financial Group. This created one of the largest insurance and wealth management firms in the Midwest. The firm’s strength and differentiator lie in the diverse backgrounds, experience and specializations of its 400+ financial service representatives and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional client service. Relentless in pursuing her vision of being an inspiring leader, Jen seeks those who share in her core values: integrity, intelligence, work ethic, and inclusivity. Her top priority is to foster an environment where her team have the support, guidance, and tools necessary to succeed. In doing so, she has built a culture that values diversity, excellence and collaboration. Jen’s capabilities as both a financial advisor and leader have won her the accolades of clients, company representatives, and industry experts. She is a cum laude graduate of the New England School of Law and received her Bachelor of Arts from State University of New York Buffalo. Jennifer also holds Series 7, 24, 66, 4 and 51 FINRA licenses. Jen and her spouse live in Glenview, Illinois with their three children. She enjoys hot yoga, biking, cooking and making memories with her family. Links: LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferadesgroseilliers/

Jen Coffey is a risk taker. Getting her start in event planning, she worked her way into leading training and eventually developing training for Accenture. She is a Co-Head of Immersive Learning, a group which helps Accenture’s clients think about how they use technology to dimensionalize and deepen customer and employee learning experiences. Like most of us, Jen has encountered imposter syndrome. In those moments, she found strength and fortitude from her network and personal board of directors who have been positive forces in her life. Jen believes it’s important to have people in your life that push you to be better. Jen works hard to create an impact by showing others the value she sees in them.  She thinks we all need to speak up and voice our ideas rather than sit back and not make any waves. Jen’s favorite quote is, ‘Bravery over perfection’. Jen herself makes brave decisions regardless of what people say. If you’re feeling a little timid and don’t know what your next step should be, this podcast with Jen Coffey is for you. Visit gobeyondbarriers.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 Jen. Highlights: [01:56] Jen Coffey’s background [05:28] What Jen’s learned so far [07:52] How she has pushed through limiting beliefs [11:58] How she formed her personal board of directors [15:58] Jen’s journey to leadership [19:37] Setting and achieving goals [23:23] The importance of confidence [26:06] How Jen stays grounded [29:22] Taking risks [33:25] Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Metaverse [39:40] What Jen wants her kids to know [42:39] Lightning round questions Quotes: “It takes a village to make things happen, and the only way to have that village is if you really foster those networks and connections that you have.” – Jen Coffey “It’s important to remember that your board of directors is super diverse.” – Jen Coffey “To me, journaling is the best way to get things out in a really eloquent way.” – Jen Coffey “It’s all about being brave and not being perfect.” – Jen Coffey Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - I am the pilot of my own airplane, I do not work in baggage claim. (Not taking on other’s emotions.) What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Passionate What is one change you've implemented that made your life better? - Significantly cutting out sugar. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - "Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys About Jen Coffey: Jen Coffey Co-Leads Accenture’s Global Immersive Learning practice, helping shape how clients leverage the latest technologies to create immersive, memorable and more durable learning experiences - for their people and their customers. She is also a Career Coach, Voiceover Artist, EQ Coach/Facilitator, Certified Scrum Master and Agile Coach. With over a decade at Accenture, Jen has deep experience in learning, developing people and teams and is passionate about leadership development, psychology, theatre, music and writing. She lives outside of Chicago with her partner, two kids and two dogs. Links: LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-coffey-97a4a5a0/

Discover the power of optimism, perseverance, and relentless determination in this inspiring conversation with Mou Dasgupta. As the Founder and CEO of Brook37 The Atelier (uh·teh·lee·ay), an innovative American tea brand, Mou has overcome numerous obstacles on her journey to success. Born in India, she didn't learn English until she was 18 years old, yet went on to study physics and computer science before landing in the finance industry. Facing the challenges of being a single mom with a demanding career, Mou courageously attempted to leave her job at JP Morgan three times before finally succeeding in pursuing her passion for tea production. Mou's corporate background has been invaluable in navigating the challenges of starting a business. Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, she has been unafraid to seek help and share her story, leading to an incredible response from others and even attracting collaborators. As a self-described trendsetter, she has infused her unique vision into every aspect of her brand, from the packaging and aroma to the sensory experience of her tea. Her authentic and transparent approach has attracted a talented team of female managers who share her commitment to producing exceptional tea while upholding their environmental and social values. Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking inspiration or simply searching for motivation to keep pushing forward in your own ventures, this podcast is a must-listen. Visit gobeyondbarriers.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 Mou. Highlights: [02:49] Mou’s journey from India [08:01] Why it took three attempts to leave her job in the financial industry [09:53] Overcoming challenges and limiting beliefs to leave her job [13:33] How Mou started her tea business [17:11] What was important to her tea brand [22:25] Leveraging important relationships [24:30] The great response Mou received about her brand, Brook37 [26:47] Telling the story of her small tea company [29:16] Finding mentors and sponsors [31:29] What to unlearn from corporate life [34:14] Practicing self care [36:01] Lightning round questions Quotes: “My brand is a reflection of me.” – Mou Dasgupta “From every conversation I have, I learn something.” – Mou Dasgupta “I think my corporate career got me ready to prepare myself before a meeting.” – Mou Dasgupta Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead” by Nell Scovell and Sheryl Sandberg What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - It’s not done until it’s done. What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Trendsetter What is one change you've implemented that made your life better? - Self care, working out, eating healthy. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - "Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys About Mou Dasgupta: Mou Dasgupta is a Trendsetting Disrupter on a mission to bring luxury tea to discerning American households and make their moments of connections more memorable, in a socially and environmentally conscious way. Mou is an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, an equality advocate, and a leader in building high performing teams. Mou is the Founder and CEO of Brook37 The Atelier, an American tea brand, that has the goal to disrupt the dusty tea industry by introducing the rarest and the most exquisite teas to American consumers. She believes that a premium tea is the non-alcoholic sibling of premium wine and it needs to be reimagined. Mou comes with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. She held key leadership positions at Capital Group, Morgan Stanley, and J P Morgan Chase, prior to her departure from the corporate career. She is known to be a champion for diversity and equality. She established Lean in Circles and spearheaded multiple corporate programs for women’s advancements. At the peak of her career, Mou decided to depart her corporate life and follow her passion to build a brand where the core values will be of driving force and not financial gain. Brook37 is Plastic Neutral and 1% for the planet certified from day 1 and they donate 2% of their revenue to social and environmental causes. Brook37 is a woman first organization, where 90% of the team members are women, not by design, but by pure talent. Mou has worked all her life in providing support for various causes. Her Covid relief work was featured by J P Morgan, where she single-handedly supported businesses as well as communities in need in India. Mou is an avid supporter of various NGOs and educational institutions within and outside the USA. Mou has an undergraduate degree in Physics and a MS in Computer Science. Her passion is to disrupt the status quo, that led her to create her brand Brook37. Mou lives in Princeton, NJ with her husband Sanjay, their dog Mishti and cat Zara. They have a daughter Emily, and two sons Sabar and Navin who live in New York. Links: Website: https://brook37.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mou-dasgupta/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brook37tea/

Hello and welcome to the Beyond Barriers podcast! I am Nikki Barua - your host for this episode. Our guest today is Naz Vahid - Head of Citi Global Wealth at Work. Naz Vahid leads her life with gratitude. She escaped Iran as a young girl and it shaped who she became. She adapted to her new life in America by putting effort into everything and never taking anything for granted. Taking on responsibilities at an early age taught her important life skills –all of which has served her professionally. Throughout her career, Naz has taken on a variety of roles and increasingly bigger responsibilities by always learning and growing. Naz shares how listening to feedback, avoiding complacency, and building great relationships helped her achieve her ambitions. She believes we elevate others by elevating ourselves. When it comes to social issues in the workplace, Naz thinks it’s important that we get uncomfortable and show our authenticity. She recognizes it is harder for women and minorities to navigate their careers and is determined to make it easier for the younger generations. Visit gobeyondbarriers.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 Naz. Highlights: [02:36] One thing Naz’s journey has taught her [04:09] Her immigrant journey [07:42] Being an outsider and forming her own identity [09:54] How Naz got into her industry [14:05] What Naz would tell her younger self about banking [16:53] Life in Iran today [19:43] Protecting women’s rights [21:44] Taking a stand on social issues [24:01] Diversity, equity, and inclusion [27:26] How Naz authentically stood out [33:42] Overcoming self doubt [39:41] Coping with setbacks [43:46] The key to building powerful and lasting relationships [49:54] Lightning round questions Quotes: “I have learned you can't take comfort or what you have for granted.” – Mehrnaz (Naz) Vahid “You just have to make the voice in your head that says, "I'm good enough," louder.” – Mehrnaz (Naz) Vahid “Every time you elevate yourself, you elevate someone behind you as well.” – Mehrnaz (Naz) Vahid Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - "People forget what you said. People forget what you did. People will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Resilient What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? - Sit on the email overnight when you are angry. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? "Fight Song" by Rachel Platten   About Mehrnaz (Naz) Vahid: Naz Vahid is a Managing Director and Head of Citi Global Wealth at Work. In this role, Naz and her team provide tailored financial solutions to working professionals within the legal, asset management and professional services industries. Prior to this, Naz served as the Head of the Law Firm Group for Citi Private Bank. In this role she was responsible for the 14 offices in the United States and UK that serve Law Firms, their Partners and Associates. The group has around 200 professionals that provide a range of financial services to more than 40,000 attorneys across approximately 650 law firms. Naz also served as the Head of the Citi Private Bank Diversity Program, working with the committee and ICG Diversity to increase awareness across many areas and was responsible for setting up Citi Private Bank’s Mentorship Program. Prior to leading the Law Firm Group, she was the Global Market Manager for the East Coast and London responsible for six Law Firm Group offices. Before this, she was a Senior Private Banker for more than 15 years, handling some of the largest client relationships in the Private Bank. Naz is formally credit trained, and prior to her role as a Private Banker, worked as a Private Bank Credit Officer and also as an analyst. Naz holds a graduate degree in International Relations and Finance from Columbia University School of International Affairs and undergraduate degrees in Economics and Sociology from Hobart and Williams Smith Colleges. Outside of her responsibilities at Citi, she is the member of board of Hobart & William Smith Colleges as well as the Tahirih Justice Center. She also sponsors scholarships both at Lynbrook High School and Hobart and William Smith Colleges for first generation immigrant students pursuing higher education in the United States. In her free time, Naz enjoys reading and painting. Naz has two daughters and lives in Long Island, New York with her husband. Links: LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazvahid/

Today, we're thrilled to have Peggy Klaus, President & Founder of Klaus & Associates, as our special guest. From Hollywood beginnings to championing women in leadership, Peggy's inspiring journey led her to author two game-changing books, "The Hard Truth About Soft Skills" and "Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It." These books have become invaluable resources for those seeking to improve their soft skills and self-promotion techniques. Peggy has also developed an empowering program called "Unstoppable," which addresses key issues critical for women’s success, including confidence,fearlessness, and purpose. Today, Peggy shares with us priceless tips for self-promotion, including tackling the issue of avoiding the "bitch" label in the workplace. Peggy reminds us of the importance of taking risks, embracing failure, and ultimately being proud of ourselves. For Peggy, self-promotion and "bragging" are about finding the sweet spot between humble and obnoxious and celebrating our accomplishments with confidence. Join us for this engaging and inspiring conversation with Peggy Klaus, and discover how to master the art of self-promotion and be proud of your achievements! Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.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 Peggy. Highlights: [01:11] How Peggy got to where she is professionally [05:00] Soft skills that are difficult to women [10:05] Strategies for making risks [14:08] How to self-promote [20:09] Overcoming feelings of humility [22:59] The soft skill you should work on [25:47] Taking inventory of your strengths and weaknesses [27:22] Lightning round questions Quotes: “The hardest skills are the soft skills.” – Peggy Klaus “You’ve got to fail to succeed.” – Peggy Klaus “Humility is lovely but not when it makes one ineffectually humble.” – Peggy Klaus Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “The 1619 Project” by Nikole Hannah-Jones What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - I don’t know what someone else’s journey is. What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Energizer bunny What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? - I changed my marital status and moved to Santa Fe What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “Here Comes the Sun” by Richie Havens or The Beatles About  Peggy Klaus: You may have seen Peggy Klaus on Nightline, 20/20, and The Today Show, or have read her advice in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, Harvard Business Review, and O Magazine. She is the author of two best-selling books, BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It and The Hard Truth About Soft Skills: Workplace Lessons Smart People Wish They’d Learned Sooner. As a communication and leadership expert, Peggy has spent more than two decades helping thousands of professionals from Fortune 500’s, mid-size companies, and start-ups succeed in their jobs. She has also dedicated much of her career to empowering women of all ages. And, once again, Peggy brings this work into the spotlight with the launch of “Unstoppable!” — her new, cutting-edge program designed to address the key issues critical for women’s success: confidence, fearlessness, and purpose, among others. Taking her message from the boardroom to the classroom, she has lectured to both students and faculty at universities across the country including Harvard University’s School of Public Health, Wharton’s Executive MBA Program, U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Boalt School of Law, and the School of Public Health & Sciences, the University of Virginia, Pepperdine University School of Law, and the Public Policy Institute at Georgetown University. Peggy began her career as an actor and classical singer, earning advanced degrees in drama, speech and theatre from the London-based Royal Academy of Music and The Drama Studio. From England she moved to Hollywood, working as a producer, director, and talent coach for actors, comedians, musicians and broadcasters in production for Paramount Studios, Warner Brothers, ABC, CBS, and NBC. When not training individuals and groups or speaking to audiences around the world, Peggy coaches political candidates to effectively communicate their values and vision with authenticity and candor. When not working, she can be found enjoying the incredible beauty of Santa Fe, New Mexico where she lives. Links: Website: https://peggyklaus.com/ Books: https://peggyklaus.com/books/ LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-klaus-705730/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/pegklaus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peggy.klaus.311

Join us as Lisa Donahue, Co-Head of the Americas & Asia regions at AlixPartners, shares her inspiring journey of overcoming fear and self-doubt to achieve success. From her first day as CEO to her current role, Lisa reveals the importance of nurturing relationships, seeking support, and embracing the learning process. Discover how she tackles challenges, raises new perspectives, and embraces the power of course correction.  In this candid conversation, Lisa emphasizes the value of asking questions, learning from failure, and accepting that we'll always have critics. Plus, get a glimpse into her personal life as she opens up about her Irish Catholic family's influence and the importance of being present for loved ones. Tune in to this empowering episode and learn to conquer your own crises of confidence. Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.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 Lisa. Highlights: [02:07] Lisa’s path to executive level leadership [07:04] Building a supportive community [11:00] Asking for what you need without feeling like a burden [14:43] Contributing to the conversation without needing to have the answer [19:07] Quick learning habits [21:43] Not fearing failure [25:56] Making decisions and having confidence in adversity [29:06] Dealing with wanting to be liked [32:22] What helps Lisa stay grounded [35:29] Lightning round questions Quotes: “You’re always going to find a point where you need some support from somebody.” – Lisa Donahue “I think women sometimes undervalue their own contribution to the network relationship.” – Lisa Donahue “It’s not always about being right. You learn a lot more from being wrong.” – Lisa Donahue Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  - “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - “Be the change you want to see in the world.” 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? - Taking the opportunity during COVID to focus on mental health and taking time for my family–that I’m a better professional when I’m grounded and I spend time with my family. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “The Man” by Aloe Blacc About Lisa Donahue: Lisa Donahue is the Co-Head of the Americas & Asia regions at AlixPartners. She versees service delivery across the firm’s industries and service lines to improve financial, operational, and digital performance. Her focus includes guiding companies through operational and financial transformations in various roles, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Transition Officer. Lisa has long been a trusted advisor to CEOs and Boards of Directors. She recently served as the Chief Transition and Development Officer at Westinghouse, where she led the successful repositioning of the company. She has had leadership roles in the power, aviation, consumer products and manufacturing industries. Lisa is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Global Futures Council of the World Economic Forum. She currently sits on the boards of The Nucleus Group, which brings marketers, designers, researchers, strategists and behavioral specialists together in service of business strategy and social impact, and Tina’s Wish, an ovarian cancer non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for the prevention and early detection of ovarian cancer. Lisa previously served on the board of AlixPartners. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisajdonahue/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisajdonahue

Carrie Sweeney knows how to build relationships. Her belief that showing up and treating clients the way she would her friends has led to success in her career. After graduating from Notre Dame, she started her career working for a large digital agency, building well-known brands like Crayola, Kellogg’s, and Hallmark. After furthering her education at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, she moved on to Bain & Company and then Google’s advertising organization. Her exit from Google led her to Pinterest where she is today helping to build the sales and monetization teams. Carrie is a team-focused and client-based leader who believes in showing up when it would be easier to quit. She feels that knowing when and how and where to pivot when making decisions is critical. Carrie is told she brings “big sister energy” to work, which she loves. It comes honestly as she did learn about how to lead and work with people through the relationship with her own sisters. As a leader, she helps her employees look for anything that went wrong in a situation and take responsibility for what they can control. She naturally loves people and believes that being there consistently for others over time helps them trust you. Carrie is clearly busy with all of her responsibilities, and when it comes to how she gets through her day, she shares with us how she does the little things first. She wants to make sure she has the quick tasks off her list by 9AM. Join us as we learn this and a lot more from this wise and successful leader in the retail industry. Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.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 Carrie. Highlights: [02:19] Carrie describes her background [03:06] Creating resilience [07:45] Forming your personal board of directors [12:09] Connecting dollars and people [14:12] A day in Carrie’s life [19:59] Staying organized [21:50] Identifying key relationships [25:04] How Carrie’s personal life affects her work [27:03] Lightning round questions Quotes: “The way you treat your friends is how you should treat your clients.” – Carrie Sweeney “Find joy, and think creatively about where to find it.” – Carrie Sweeney “In tech, you have to know what’s going on in the details to see the right themes and strategies.” – Carrie Sweeney Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - “Look for happiness under your own roof.” – Gretchen Rubin What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Compassionate (and high energy) What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? - The post-it note hack shared earlier What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “About Damn Time” by Lizzo About Carrie Sweeney: Carrie currently leads the Pinterest teams responsible for client partnerships with the largest retailers in the US. Together, they unlock the value of shared technology and media, including partnerships in the rapidly evolving retail media landscape. She also partners closely with Fortune 100 retailers, as well as Pinterest’s product and technical teams, to inform Pinterest’s roadmap in the evolving commerce space. Carrie graduated from Notre Dame in 2003 with a liberal arts degree and worked at a large digital agency, Starcom Worldwide, for 6 years, building brands like Crayola, Hallmark, Morgan Stanley, Kellogg’s and Blackberry/Research in Motion. She attended business school full time at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business from 2009-2011. Following Booth, she joined Bain & Company as a strategy consultant in the Chicago office, and then joined Google’s advertising organization. She left Google to help build the Pinterest sales and monetization teams in 2016. In her spare time, she is a member of A Better Chicago’s Impact Council, an avid reader, and a mediocre tennis player who is just getting back into the swing of it. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-sweeney-4309b413/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carriesweeney/

Success doesn't come easy, but Lisa Jones, Head of the Americas, President, and CEO of Amundi US, Inc., knows that a strong work ethic and an unyielding commitment to your goals can make all the difference. Raised in an Italian Catholic family, Lisa learned the power of discipline from her days as an athlete, and she was able to take that knowledge to the professional world. In this episode, she'll share the secrets of her success, including how to maintain composure in tough situations and why it's important to stay optimistic and focus on the positives. Listen in to learn more about how Lisa makes tough decisions and how she prepares herself for the future. She'll also tell us about the time she retired to become a stay-at-home mom and how the events of 2020 changed her perspective on work-life balance. Join us to discover how Lisa has used her perseverance to not only break through barriers, but to create a life of success and personal fulfillment. Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.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 Lisa. Highlights: [02:35] Lisa's professional journey [05:28] The importance of perspective for leadership [07:51] Being the first generation in corporate [17:34] How Lisa found confidence [19:28] Making difficult decisions [21:31] Being prepared for the future [24:24] Lisa's take on work/life balance [28:24] Creating transparency about having a personal life [30:07] Lightning round questions Quotes: “Don't just lean in, go get them.” – Lisa Jones “We are still athletes of our brand and our career.” – Lisa Jones “Work-life balance for me is one where I'm both working and being a present parent.” – Lisa Jones Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead” by Nell Scovell and Sheryl Sandberg What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - “Go get them.” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Transparent What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? - Not to take everything so personally. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy About Lisa Jones: Lisa M. Jones is Head of the Americas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amundi US, Inc., the U.S. Division of Amundi Asset Management. She is Trustee of the Pioneer Funds, and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pioneer Funds. Lisa is also President of Amundi Distributor US, Inc. She is head of the US Executive Committee and US Management Committee, and a member of the Global Executive Committee. She has over 30 years of experience in global financial services developing and building asset management businesses. In 2016 and 2020, Lisa received the Top Women in Asset Management Award from Money Management Executive. Prior to joining Amundi US, Lisa was Global Head of Distribution at Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) and President of MSIM Distribution Inc. In this role, she oversaw all MSIM distribution channels globally, including retail and institutional. Prior to that, Lisa was Head of the Global Institutional Division at Eaton Vance Management. She also spent more than 16 years at MFS Investment Management in leadership roles across both retail and institutional divisions. She began her career at E.F. Hutton & Co. in New York. Lisa is a member of the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute, a member of the MIT Sloan Finance Group Advisory Board at MIT Sloan School of Management and a member of the Board of Directors of Clearwater Analytics. Lisa has served on other boards such as the Foreign Policy Association in New York, the Advisory Board of the Institutional Investor Institute and the Board of Fellows at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. She is also a former trustee at the Pingree School Board of Trustees in South Hamilton, MA. She has a B.A. in Economics from Trinity College. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mjones/

Susan McPherson has an early memory that shaped her perspective on how to build relationships. Growing up, she would watch her parents sit at the breakfast table every morning, cutting out newspaper articles that they found interesting. Every day, they wrote notes to their friends and sent it in the mail along with the newspaper cuttings. It was their way of saying “I’m thinking of you” and nurturing relationships with friends and family. In this episode, Susan shares the keys to connecting with people and what you can do to nurture relationships. As a successful entrepreneur, she credits her people skills to building a thriving business. She encourages us to always look for ways to be helpful to others. Learn practical tips and proven principles in Susan’s book, “The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships.” Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.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 Susan. Highlights: [03:14] Susan’s journey and her most important lesson learned [05:28] Finding her career path [08:08] Fostering relationships [11:02] Susan’s book, “The Lost Art oF Connecting” [15:18] Starting her business [18:07] Navigating tough times [21:02] Leading with your values [22:58] Addressing social initiatives [24:34] What keeps Susan grounded [26:23] Finding the right mentor [28:42] The future of work and technology [30:51] Lightning round questions Quotes: “Every person, no matter who they are, where they came from, the role they play in society, their religion, the color of their skin, is deserving of our attention, our compassion, our kindness, and our curiosity.” – Susan McPherson “For me, it’s alway been leading with how we can be helpful to others.” – Susan McPherson “No matter how small our circle is, we still have a circle, so start with the people that you know.” – Susan McPherson Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - Writing my own book (“The Lost Art oF Connecting”) What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - “How can I be helpful?” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Genuine What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? - Limiting my alcohol intake What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “Central Reservation” by Beth Orton About Susan McPherson: Susan McPherson is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a B- corp certified communications consultancy focused on social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships (McGraw-Hill). Susan has 30+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry events including Massachusetts Conference for Women, Worth Women and Techonomy, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine and the Los Angeles Times. Susan is the recipient of Forbes magazine’s 50 over 50—Impact 2021 award and Worth Media’s Worthy100 award. She has also won numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company and Elle Magazine. Currently, Susan invests in and advises women-led start-ups, including: iFundWomen,Inc., Messy.fm, Our Place, The Riveter, Park Place Payments, Hint Water, Apolitical and The Muse. She serves on the boards of USA for UNHCR, The 19th News, and serves on the advisory boards of The List, Apolitical Foundation, Just Capital and Alltruists. Additionally, she is a member of the MIT Solve Women and Technology Leadership Group and serves as an adviser to several nonprofits including She’s The First and The OpEd Project. Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and a member of the New York Women’s Forum and Extraordinary Women on Boards. She resides in Brooklyn. Links: Website: https://www.mcpstrategies.com/ Book: https://www.thelostartofconnecting.com/ LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmcpherson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/susanmcp1

Maha Dakhil, the powerhouse behind Hollywood's beloved talents like Tom Cruise, Reese Witherspoon, and Natalie Portman, knows the secret to striking game-changing deals. Her journey began when she courageously chose the entertainment industry over law school, despite her immigrant parents' concerns. Maha's determination to succeed in Hollywood proved fruitful, paving her way to triumph. Raised with sisters, Maha learned early on the power of female leadership. She carved her unique path in the entertainment world, undeterred by the lack of diversity she encountered. Embracing every opportunity, Maha's passion for empowering storytellers and productions has driven her to excel as an agent. In this insightful podcast, Maha reveals how her fearless nature and unwavering resilience allow her to thrive. She candidly discusses embracing confrontation, standing up for clients, and balancing victories with setbacks. Maha shares the importance of remaining composed amid challenges, and imparts invaluable wisdom from her transformative journey. Visit www.gobeyondbarriers.com where you will find show notes and links to all the resources referenced in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Maha. Highlights: [02:49] Maha’s story and her pursuit of the entertainment business [07:27] Finding mentors and finding her role in the industry [18:42] Standing up for what she believes in [23:07] Receiving feedback [26:25] Promoting tolerance of diverse cultures and background in Hollywood [30:18] Celebrating her accomplishments [33:56] Having courageous conversations and negotiating for her clients [40:59] Bouncing back from a setback [43:21] Maha’s proudest achievement [46:13] Lightning Round Questions Quotes: “It’s important to keep our eyes open and our minds flexible to see what we can offer and what is resonating.” – Maha Dakhil “It’s really important to be aware of how you’re being perceived in a team culture.” – Maha Dakhil “You can’t live too long in victory, and you also don’t have to live too long in any defeat.” – Maha Dakhil Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - (Paraphrased) You don’t have to be aggressive to be strong What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Empathetic troublemaker What is one change you've implemented that made your life better? - Being on time What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - Anything by Beyoncé About Maha Dakhil: Co-Head of the Motion Picture Group and Co-Head of the agency’s International Film Group, Maha Dakhil also serves on the CAA board that is responsible for the day-to-day management of the agency. Additionally, she represents some of the world’s most successful actors and actresses, moving seamlessly between such talent and literary clients as Tom Cruise, Ava DuVernay, Reese Witherspoon, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Mindy Kaling, Madonna, Sam Mendes, Natalie Portman, Lena Dunham, Melina Matsoukas, Juan Antonio Bayona, Yorgos Lanthimos, Olivia Wilde, Aaron Sorkin, Denis Villeneuve, Steve McQueen, Lenny Abrahamson, Danny Strong, Johan Renck, H.E.R., Anne Hathaway, Jeymes Samuel, Hwang Dong-hyu, and Higher Ground, among others. An 18-year veteran of the agency, Dakhil has long been at the forefront of cultivating opportunities for diverse talent and championing underserved voices and their stories. Gina Prince-Bythewood’s action epic THE WOMAN KING, made its world premiere earlier this month at the Toronto Film Festival and went on to open #1 at the box office. Lena Dunham’s CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY, which also had its world premiere at Toronto, opens in theaters September 23. She most recently signed Higher Ground, Obama's media company. In addition, Dakhil brokered a bevy of deals for client Olivia Wilde of late (BOOKSMART), including a female-led comedy for Universal, which Wilde will produce and direct; DON’T WORRY DARLING, in which Wilde stars in and directed; and a new Marvel movie. Dakhil has also guided client Reese Witherspoon on building out her production company, Hello Sunshine, which focuses on female-driven content across multiple platforms. Hello Sunshine, which was sold to a venture backed by private- equity giant Blackstone Group in August 2021, has produced such films as WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, GONE GIRL, and WILD, as well as the Emmy-winning television series THE MORNING SHOW with Jennifer Aniston for Apple TV+, which has been renewed for a third season, BIG LITTLE LIES for HBO, and the original thriller SURFACE for Apple TV+. It also has the popular Reese’s Book Club. In addition to co-leading the successful integration of CAA and ICM’s motion picture departments, Dakhil has positioned her clients at the forefront of the biggest moments in pop culture this past year. Client highlights include the record breaking success of Tom Cruise’s TOP GUN: MAVERICK, which has earned more than $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office; Natalie Portman’s starring role in THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER; a deal for Mindy Kaling to co-write LEGALLY BLONDE 3, with Witherspoon set to reprise her iconic role as “Elle Woods” and Hello Sunshine producing; Denis Villeneuve directing a sequel to the six-time Oscar-winning DUNE; and Danny Strong serving as the creator, showrunner, and director of the seven-time Emmy nominated DOPESICK, which marks his first limited series. Dakhil also orchestrated a deal for Madonna to co-write an original screenplay based on her life, which the iconic artist will direct. As Co-Head of CAA’s International Film Group, Dakhil plays an integral role in building the Motion Picture department’s global footprint, opening doors for talent regardless of geographic location. Her roster of global filmmakers continues to grow, signing SQUID GAME creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk; Jasmila Žbanić, whose film QUO VADIS, AIDA? was nominated for the Best International Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards; Kornél Mundruczó, director of the acclaimed film PIECES OF A WOMAN, which premiered at the 77th Venice International Film Festival; Mohamad Diab,whose film AMIRA received strong critical praise at the 2021 Venice International Film Festival;Ali Abbasi, winner of the Un Certain Regard prize for BORDER at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival; Justin Kurzel, director of NITRAM, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival; Lukas Dhont, director of GIRL, which won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes for best first feature film, along with the Queer Palm, awarded for best LGBT-themed film; and Rungano Nyoni, whose film I AM NOT A WITCH won a 2018 BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. In her role on the CAA Board, Dakhil focuses on the agency’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.She also plays a leadership role in CAA Amplify, an annual invitation-only summit convening diverse leading artists and executives from the most impactful organizations in entertainment, sports, media, brands, technology, and social justice. In addition, Dakhil is a founding member of Time’s Up, an initiative that addresses systemic inequality and injustice in the workplace. She is a champion for underrepresented storytellers, creating opportunities for them to transition into the global marketplace. Dakhil also serves on the boards of Baby2Baby and the UCLA Lab School. Dakhil began her career at Genesis, a literary agency. She joined CAA in 2004. Dakhil graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in sociology. Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretagentm/

Rachel ten Brink is known by many as the "Stealth Latina," and a true trailblazer. She has always believed in the power of diversity and has used her unique background and perspective to make a difference in the worlds of venture capital and tech. Her commitment to bringing value to every aspect of her life - from work to relationships to family - is a testament to her dedication and passion. As the first Latina to raise $29M for her tech company, Rachel knows what it takes to succeed in a competitive industry. She has learned the importance of what not to do as much as what should be done, and she believes in investing in companies that empower the economy and improve people's lives. Rachel's killer instinct and boundary-setting skills are equally matched by her kindness and compassion. She understands the importance of mentor relationships as a two-way street of communication and sharing, and she values education as a key to unlocking one's full potential. In this podcast, Rachel inspires us to put our own skin in the game, to believe in ourselves, and to never let anyone else define our worth. Join us as we learn from Rachel's incredible journey and gain the inspiration and insights we need to break through barriers in our own lives. Visit gobeyondbarriers.com to find show notes and links to all the resources mentioned in this episode, including the best way to connect with Rachel. Highlights: [02:44] Rachel’s background [04:01] Taking the leap into tech [05:16] Importance of establishing your brand [13:31] Moving into the venture capital world [17:44] The power of diverse teams [20:01] Voicing your opinion [23:20] Building strategic relationships [27:36] Drawing boundaries around helping others [31:00] Lightning round questions Quotes: “If you want to go from Point A to Point B, think about what’s going to build your bridge.” – Rachel ten Brink “When you think about building your brand, it can’t all be about me, me, me. You have to think about your audience.” – Rachel ten Brink “Seek out people who compliment you and who are strong where you are not.” – Rachel ten Brink Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Art of the Start” by Guy Kawasaki What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - “Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did except backwards and in heels.” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Stealth Latina What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? - Intentionality around my schedule. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “Whenever, Wherever” by Shakira About Rachel ten Brink: Rachel ten Brink is General Partner and Co-Founder of Red Bike Capital, a Latinx and woman-led Venture Capital fund based in New York that invests in early stage, high-growth startups that drive the economy and improve people’s lives. Red Bike supports US-based founders in FinTech, Ecommerce SAAS, Marketplaces, and Wellness. Rachel has been a board member and senior advisor for various companies and serves on the Board of Directors of AboveBoard and Dyper. Rachel is a Y Combinator Founder turned VC. Prior to founding Red Bike Capital, she was Co-Founder and CMO of Scentbird, a Y-Combinator backed ecommerce startup that raised $29MM in venture funding- which makes her one of just 90 Latinas to have ever raised over $1M in funding. Leading Growth, Brand and Revenue, she scaled Scentbird to 500,000 paid subscribers and built 74 partnerships with corporations including Coty, Macy’s and Glossier. Before this, she spent fifteen years building global billion-brands at P&G, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder and L’Oreal. Named Entrepreneur Magazines' 100 Powerful Women of 2020, she has been featured in The New York Times, TechCrunch, WSJ, and Forbes. She is a champion diversity in the tech ecosystem through her work as a mentor at Y-Combinator, Techstars, Entrepreneurs Roundtable, 500 Startups, Columbia Business School Lang Center and NYU Entrepreneurship Center, and a member of Top Latinx in Tech, LatinxVC, VCFamilia, Transact, DealmakeHers and Latino Corporate Directors Association. She graduated magna cum laude from Babson College and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. She lives in New York City with her husband and two kids. Links: Website:https://www.projectdiane.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ten-brink-a08151/

In true Beyond Barriers fashion, we are here to explore the stories and insights of ambitious successful individuals who have overcome obstacles and achieved success in their careers. In this episode, we are thrilled to have Amanda Herson as our guest. Amanda grew up in a family of entrepreneurs in South Africa and witnessed injustices early in life, which inspired her to make a positive impact in the world. Though she initially wanted to go into politics, she found her calling in the world of venture capital, where she quickly discovered the glass ceiling for women in the industry. But instead of seeing it as a barrier, she has turned it into an opportunity to stand out. Amanda believes that pressure and challenge are privileges that allow her to grow and learn, and she is fascinated by how people think and make decisions. She values respecting other people's time and understands the importance of building a strong network of supporters and mentors. In this podcast, Amanda shares her experiences and wisdom, encouraging us all to have an opinion and use our voices. She emphasizes the importance of conviction in one's professional life and explains how using guardrails protects her personal life. Join us as we learn from Amanda's journey and gain valuable insights on how to navigate the challenges of a competitive industry. Visit gobeyondbarriers.com to find show notes and links to all the resources mentioned in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Amanda. Highlights: [02:37] How Amanda grew up and arrived at career in venture capital [08:24] Moving forward despite uncertainty [12:03] Identifying your circle [16:06] Being a woman in venture capital [20:16] Getting started in the venture capital world [24:21] Integrating work and personal life [29:58] Lightning round questions Quotes: “One of the key things to being able to jump is really seeking out people who believe in you.” – Amanda Herson “Pressure is a privilege and being challenged is a privilege.” – Amanda Herson “Lean into your strengths and own your weaknesses.” – Amanda Herson Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Long Walk to Freedom” by Nelson Mandela What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - “If I am not for me, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Connector What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? - Health always has to come first. Sleep and exercise make you a better person. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten About Amanda Herson: Amanda is a Partner at Founder Collective, a leading seed-stage venture capital firm with several Midas list appearances. Prior to returning to investing, she has spent the last several years building and growing one of the largest omni-channel retailers in South Africa, launching their e-commerce and expanding the footprint to over 300 stores and serves on the Board of Cape Union Mart. Amanda was Highland Consumer Fund investing in and growing retail and consumer goods companies. Previously, she was at L Brands in New York, launching new beauty brands and focusing on growth and innovation. She began her career at Boston Consulting Group in New York. Amanda has a passion for building strong cultures in growing companies and an operational background in building e-commerce companies from the ground-up and has become a trusted advisor to several entrepreneurs. Amanda completed her Undergraduate in Economics at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and received her MBA from Harvard Business School. She currently resides in New York, is a mom of three + a sheepadoodle, a Central Park enthusiast, with a side passion for healthy cooking and living. Links: Website: https://www.foundercollective.com/index.html LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-herson-9616802/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amanda_Herson

Kaego Ogbechie Rust & Shea Tate-Di Donna describe themselves as entrepreneurial and experimental. They discovered that breaking into the venture capital world was a challenge, so they wanted to help other people (especially women) by giving them practical steps to do what they were able to do. Their book, “The Venture Fund Blueprint” was written with this in mind. Kaego & Shea noticed that people expected only capital when they sought funding from them, and they wanted to provide more. In this podcast, they talk about the pay-it-forward culture of the venture capital world. Their roots are in helping businesses grow and launch, and they share with us how to ask other people for help. First of all, you want to give more than you get, and secondly, you want to make it easy for others to help you (think craft the email for them.) We also learn from these successful women how to not take rejection personally. When asking for something like funding, you’ll hear an incredible amount of no’s to get to that yes, and that takes perseverance. In this podcast, you’ll also hear about strategies for building trust and how to prioritize your personal life. Diversity in the fund management field is a priority to Kaego & Shea, and they also share what they’re doing to promote this important topic. Even if you aren’t familiar with the venture capital world, you’ll learn a wealth of information about managing your own business in this podcast. Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.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 Kaego & Shea. Highlights: [02:40] How Shea & Kaego got into the venture capital world [05:40] Challenges they overcame to find space in the funding industry [06:46] Leveraging community to overcome barriers [14:50] Making the easy ask [16:31] Overcoming fears [20:20] Moving past limiting beliefs [24:58] How to deal with no’s and setbacks [28:11] Getting to the yes [32:07] Keeping boundaries [37:28] Diversity in fund management [42:45] Lightning round questions Quotes: “One of The things we love about the VC industry is the pay it forward culture.” – Shea Tate-Di Donna “You only build a community by giving much more than you receive.” – Kaego Ogbechie Rust “If you want to learn how to take rejection and get a no and move on, fundraising is the perfect way to do that.” – Shea Tate-Di Donna “Trust is a key element of brand building.” – Kaego Ogbechie Rust “How can we give back to our community? Sometimes it’s just sharing what you know.” – Kaego Ogbechie Rust “I’m trying to divorce myself from the word should.” – Shea Tate-Di Donna Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “The Lord of the Flies” by William Golding (Kaego) - “The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership” by Diana Chapman and Jim Dethmer (Shea) What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - “There are two types of people in this world, the energy givers and energy takers.” (Kaego) - “Be the change you want to see in the world.” (Shea) What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Entrepreneurial & Experimental (Kaego & Shea as a team) - Tenacious (Shea) - Paced (Kaego) What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan (Shea) - “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston (Kaego) About Kaego Ogbechie Rust: Kaego Ogbechie Rust is a career business advisor, entrepreneur, and author — with more than a decade of financial services experience in the public and private markets at Goldman Sachs and her consulting practice, KHOR Consulting, Kaego has worked with hundreds of companies in alternative investing, venture capital, private equity, small business, and startups. About Shea Tate-Di Donna: Shea Tate-Di Donna is a career venture capitalist, entrepreneur, product creator, and author. With more than a decade of early-stage high tech venture experience, she has advised hundreds of emerging fund managers. Shea was part of the founding team at True Ventures, creator of Founder Services, and originator of Venture Productization. Links: Website: https://www.venturefundblueprint.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Venture-Fund-Blueprint-Capital- Actualize/dp/1544535953/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=16750 88374&sr=8-1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaegorust/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheatatedidonna/ A new Best Selling book, The Venture Fund Blueprint, helps emerging managers in venture capital learn to launch, grow, and scale funds. The book’s pages are filled with tangible examples, real peer advice, and step-by-step guides from building pitch decks and fundraising to running operations and legal. Co-authors Shea Tate-Di Donna and Kaego Ogbechie Rust are long-time collaborators who have brought together their learnings from Shea’s time on the founding team of True Ventures and with Melinda Gates' Pivotal Ventures, plus Kaego’s decade at Goldman Sachs in alternative investments and with KHOR Consulting. This book aims to empower a diversity of intellect across emerging venture capital managers, to establish a precedent for operational excellence, and to facilitate peer-led knowledge exchange amongst GPs. We see a future where GPs and LPs are even more aligned around shared values, desired impact, and meaningful returns — where the ladder of capital, from investors to fund managers to startups, is constantly driving towards mutually beneficial outcomes. Learn More: www.venturefundblueprint.com Get The Book: https://amzn.to/3YkMF7E

A lifelong learner, Meredith Lorenz Heimburger, Partner and Head of Impact at Global Endowment Management, loves new challenges. She’s not stuck in old ways of thinking and is open to new ideas. She sees education as the great equalizer. As a leader in integrating mission and values into portfolios, she knows how to fail and keep going. In fact, it’s in her blood. Meredith feels being humble, flexible, and open to feedback are keys to her success. She believes that when we are open to change, we gain the most reward. She learned this herself when she became a leader unexpectedly when she originally thought she’d be a stay-at-home mom. Having been asked to be the contrarian in her professional life, she’s comfortable with being different. Listen while Meredith shares her wisdom with us about how to ask for two things rather than one when we seek help and how to successfully separate our work and personal lives. Visit gobeyondbarriers.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 Meredith. Highlights: [02:18] Meredith’s professional background [04:34] Taking a leap [07:53] Working with mentors [11:04] Having resilience [15:06] How to be a leader [20:46] Overcoming limiting beliefs [24:27] The importance of an objective voice [25:39] Daily habits of success [27:57] Building strategic relationships [30:12] Creating change [36:38] Lightning round questions Quotes: “I wasn’t born with the skill set to fail and give up, I was born to fail and keep going.” – Meredith Lorenz Heimburger “Diverse teams make better decisions.” – Meredith Lorenz Heimburger “You have to separate your personal resiliency from your professional life.” – Meredith Lorenz Heimburger Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - The “Good Bones” poem by Maggie Smith What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Honest What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? - Organization What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - Something 90s rap About Meredith Lorenz Heimburger: Meredith Lorenz Heimburger is a Partner and Head of Impact at Global Endowment Management. As Head of Impact, Meredith partners with GEM’s clients to align their investment programs with their values and mission. Meredith and her team aim to meet these clients where they are to help them fulfill both their impact and investment objectives. Prior to joining GEM in 2012, Meredith spent seven years with Teach For America. She served first as a classroom teacher and then as a member of the staff, leading the expansion of the organization’s presence in new and developing regions across the U.S. Meredith is a trustee and chair of the finance committee for the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, which promotes sustainable solutions to human and environmental problems. She is also a member of the Davidson College Board of Visitors and a trustee of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library Foundation. She is an active member of several organizations that focus on leveraging assets for positive impact, including The ImPact and The Philanthropy Workshop (TPW). Meredith received her B.A. in English with a concentration in Gender Studies from Davidson College. Links: Website: https://www.globalendowment.com/ LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-lorenz-heimburger-765a3553/

Having a growth mindset means viewing failures and setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than seeing them as a reflection of your intelligence or your self-worth. Our guest, Krista Satterthwaite, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise’s Mainstream Compute, shares that when you embrace a growth mindset, you shouldnt see failure as a defeat, but rather as a chance to learn and improve future actions and decisions toward success. However, Krista also highlights that having a growth mindset does not guarantee that you will always win”. There will be times when despite your best efforts, things may not go as planned, and you may not achieve your desired outcome. Join me in this conversation with Krista as we discuss how she prepares for difficult conversations, getting what you deserve and staying intentional and focused on your goals. Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.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 Krista. Highlights: [02:11] Krista’s journey [06:08] Inflection point for change [09:26] Overcoming fears associated with risk-taking [10:59] Growth Mindset [11:39] Getting what you deserve [14:41] Preparing for difficult conversations [18:34] Cultivating strong relationships [21:59] Gaining clarity on what you want to be known for [26:33] Staying intentional and focused [29:56] Lightning Round Questions Quotes: “In the corporate world, if you don’t understand the rules, you can’t win the game.” – Krista Satterthwaite “Reframe your fears of risk-taking with a ‘give it a shot’ mindset and see what happens.” – Krista Satterthwaite “When you have a growth mindset, you can’t lose, you just learn.” – Krista Satterthwaite Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Rise” by Patty Azzarello What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - “I never lose, I either win or I learn.” - Nelson Mandela What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Positive What is one change youve implemented that made your life better? - Definitely reading. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys About Krista Satterthwaite: Krista is a technology business leader with 25 years of experience across operations, product and services strategy, quality, marketing and Go-to-Market. She is the Senior Vice President and General Manager leading Hewlett-Packard Enterprise’s Mainstream Compute business ($9+ billion PL). In 2019, she was featured in Savoy Magazine as one of the ‘Most Influential Women in Corporate America’. Fostering a positive culture of inclusion is one of Krista’s passions. She currently serves on the HPE CEO’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council. Krista is the executive sponsor for HPE’s Black Employee Network. In 2021, she was awarded the HPE Black Employee Network’s ‘Legacy Award’ for her contributions. Krista received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Chicago, and a Master of Business Administration from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.   Links: LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-satterthwaite-76932835/

Singleton Beato is a thoughtful leader, an insightful person and a wonderful conversationalist. She has deep experience and bright ideas and we have been thinking about this conversation since we recorded it. As Global EVP, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at McCann Worldgroup, a global network of creative and media agencies, Singleton is responsible for designing and leading strategic initiatives that increase organizational capacity, innovation, and growth. With over 25 years of executive experience, Singleton’s career has been defined by leading large-scale people and organizational change initiatives. She is a visionary DEI leader who focuses as much on ensuring the work product her company produces as she does the culture of the company itself. Representing some of the world’s biggest brands, Singleton helps client leaders and creative teams produce work that is inclusive, representative, respectful and impactful. Singleton was named one of 2019 Most Influential Women in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine, one of Ad Week’s 2020 Women Trailblazers, and one of New York's Most Outstanding Corporate Citizens.   Highlights:  [02:49] Singleton’s back story [07:29] A personal story of risk taking [14:29] How to be respectful, resonant, and relevant [20:47] How her work reflects Singleton’s values [24:48] Singleton didn’t always know she’d be a leader [25:31] Finding purpose and clarity about your career [30:43] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [35:27] Singleton’s daily habits of success [40:54] Setting and achieving goals [49:11] Building your network and asking for help [53:29] Lightning Round Questions Quotes: “There are scenarios and circumstances that we need to become well-versed in before we are able to move in those spaces with great authority in the way we want to.” – Singleton Beato “The best way for people to learn is through stories.” – Singleton Beato “When it comes to achieving goals, the number one thing is to use your technology.” – Singleton Beato   Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “Night” by Elie Wiesel What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “Achieving your goals is a game of options.” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Enthusiastic What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?  Checking in with myself daily.  What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Cuff It” by Beyonce  About Singleton Beato: Singleton Beato is the Global EVP, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at McCann Worldgroup, where she is responsible for designing and leading strategic initiatives that increase organizational capacity, innovation and growth.  With over 25 years of experience as an accomplished executive, Singleton is recognized for her success driving large scale people and organizational change initiatives across a wide range of industries, having held talent leadership roles at J. Walter Thompson, Crunch Fitness International, and Bloomberg L.P.    Previously, Singleton was EVP, Diversity Strategy and Talent Development at the 4A’s where she provided leadership and advice to senior advertising and media agency executives working to create and activate a strategic approach to D&I.  Singleton was the visionary and architect of high-profile initiatives including The Face Of Talent symposium and the Ad industry’s only Talent Leadership Conference, Talent@2030.  She also led the transformation of the renowned Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) and the 4A’s Foundation.  And, after assuming P&L responsibility for Talent Development and Diversity related revenue streams, Singleton consistently delivered on revenue and margin growth targets for the organization. Singleton received a MS from Fairleigh Dickinson University and serves on several non-profit boards including the Brand Erwin Center for Brand Communications, AdWeek’s D&I Council, the AAF’s Mosaic Council, NYWICI, Own The Room and Figure Skating in Harlem as well as the Advisory Board of the Brand + Integrated Communications program. She has received numerous awards and accolades from the AAF, the 4A’s, the ADCOLOR Coalition, the National Diversity Council, the World Diversity Leadership Summit.  Additionally, Singleton was named one of 2019’s Most Influential Women In Corporate America by Savoy Magazine, one of AdWeek’s 2020 Women Trailblazers and one of New York’s Most Outstanding Corporate Citizens.  Links: LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/singleton-beato-835bb14/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/singleton_beato 

As a child gymnast, and later a dancer, Alyssa Rapp, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Healthwell Acquisition Corp., learned early on about discipline. It’s carried her through her life and into her career. As the author of the book, “Leadership and Life Hacks: Insights from a Mom, Wife, Entrepreneur & Executive”, Alyssa shares her insights about getting the best out of your day. Alyssa is a believer that we are all responsible for setting the tone for our days. She makes her needs a priority and puts the oxygen mask on herself first so that she can serve her family, friends, and coworkers better. She also values her quiet time and gets through tough situations by managing expectations. For Alyssa, scheduling is everything. If she is going to work out, she puts it on her calendar. If her kids have an event she needs to attend, it has a set place in her schedule. As a young gymnast, she also learned to overcome her fears, and now she really loves a challenge. She gives life all she can with no regrets. Alyssa also shares with us her principle of mission, vision, and values. She feels that it’s vital for everyone in an organization to share common goals and transparency. When she gives her all, she finds that it inspires others to do the same. Join us to learn a lot of life hacks to help you be more focused, fearless, and organized. Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.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:  [02:45] Alyssa’s background and why she wrote a book [07:33] Achieving balance through prioritizing [13:09] Managing stakeholder expectations [18:36] Making yourself a priority [21:54] Overcoming Mom guilt [27:02] The cost benefit analysis of your choices [31:52] How to take risks [39:31] Activating the power of community [44:41] Lightning round questions Quotes: “It’s no one’s job to set the tone for my day but me.” – Alyssa Rapp “At this point in my life, the quiet is to me the fulcrum of life and cherished time.” – Alyssa Rapp “Commit to the end before you start, then do.” – Alyssa Rapp   Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “Personal History” by Katharine Graham What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.” Also, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to continue that counts.” (Winston Churchill) What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Persevering What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Patience What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Pride (In the Name of Love)” by U2   About Alyssa Rapp: Alyssa Rapp serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I. Ms. Rapp served as Chief Executive Officer of Surgical Solutions, a B2b healthcare services business providing non-clinical surgical services to hospitals, from 2018-2021. As CEO, Ms. Rapp led a successful turnaround of the enterprise, driving 21% sales growth with 90% customer retention. Ms. Rapp has also served as an independent director of Elevate Women’s Health, a portfolio company of Shore Capital Partners, since October 2020. From 2015-2018, Ms. Rapp served as the founder & CEO of Bottlenotes, Inc., a leading interactive media company. Starting in 2015, Ms. Rapp served as the Managing Partner of A JR Ventures, a strategic advisory firm for family offices and private equity firms on market development, digital and e-commerce strategies for select portfolio companies. Ms. Rapp has served as a lecturer-in-management at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business since 2014 and Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago’s Booth Business School since 2019. Ms. Rapp earned a B.A. in Political Science and the History of Art from Yale University in 2000 and an M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business in 2005. She is the author of Amazon Bestseller, Leadership and Life Hacks: Insights from a Mom, Wife, Entrepreneur & Executive (ForbesBooks, October 2019). Links: Website: https://alyssarapp.com/  LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-rapp-3b2aa7/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyssaRapp  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssajrapp/ 

Sarah Chen-Spellings had the rare opportunity to know what it was like to be a success from a young age. By 9, she was already a TV host in Malaysia, and by 25, she was wise beyond her years and already making millions. After her father died, she was called to manage the family business and quickly learned the art of grit, resilience, and the power of business from this experience.  However, before her father died, he encouraged her to work in the corporate world. Through that experience, she learned to turn her convictions into her work and believes that having a strong community and positive mentors are important for success. She likes to help other women and people of color move up the ladder and create opportunities for them to be a part of upper management that was once not possible.  Even with all of her successes, Sarah can still feel like she’s failing sometimes. She honestly shares why and how she focuses on what’s possible to overcome these feelings. She also shares how she evaluates risks, manages her time, and puts family first. Referring to herself as an activated accidental feminist, “Go big or go home” is a motto for Sarah, and we learn how true that’s been for her life in this podcast. Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.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 Sarah. Highlights:  [02:52] Sarah’s background [11:59] Finding courage when you feel like you’re failing [16:58] The importance of community  [20:57] How to build authentic relationships [24:55] Evaluating opportunities and rising to meet them [28:48] Executing lofty goals and time hacks [32:02] The toll of task switching [34:12] Setting boundaries around time [38:15] Joining passions with work [45:02] Lightning round questions Quotes: “My style is to go big or go home always, and if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it well.” – Sarah Chen-Spellings “Change, growth, and progress will cost a lot and I do it for my WHY. And that's what drives me is the fact that I know I just have something big here to be done.” – Sarah Chen-Spellings “Choosing your partner is the most important career decision you can make.” – Sarah Chen-Spellings   Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “The most common way most people give up power is to believe they have none.” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Audacious What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?  Not waiting for the perfect time.  What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Haghame” by Golazin   About Sarah Chen-Spellings: Based in Washington DC, investor & entrepreneur Sarah Chen-Spellings is Co-Founder of Beyond The Billion (launched as The Billion Dollar Fund for Women), the world's first and largest global consortium of over 100 venture funds and limited partner investors that have pledged to invest and are actively deploying beyond $1B towards women-founded companies. In under two years, the consortium has deployed $638M and counting into close to 800 female-founded companies, of which 11 have been recognized as unicorns. Previously, she was on the pioneer team of a corporate venture capital unit within a $13B publicly traded Asian conglomerate, investing in later-stage biotechnology companies. Since then, she has been at the forefront of multi-million cross border investments, structuring and executing commercialization plans with her portfolio companies. Determined to see more women at the helm, she sits on multiple boards, including 131 & Counting, a bipartisan effort encouraging more women to run for office in the US; and Lean In Malaysia, which she co-founded, a platform accelerating women into leadership in Malaysia. Named Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and Forbes Under 30 VC, Chen-Spellings is a recognized speaker, strategist and commentator on venture capital, startups and women in leadership, having been featured on Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg, Der Spiegel, United Nations et al, and is a celebrated host on the show and podcast #BillionDollarMoves backed by the Hubspot Podcast Network. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Laws, LL.B (Hons.) from King’s College London. Links: Websites: https://beyondthebillion.com/  https://sarah-chen.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahChenGlobal/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahchenglobal/  https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebillion/ Twitter: sarahchenglobal, @beyondbillion  

Michele Ruiz has seemingly done it all. But in reality, while she’s been very successful in multiple fields, she’s really an expert at bringing the right people together to fulfill the vision at hand.  Michele’s background is in broadcasting and has had a very successful career as a news anchor. She wanted to make an impact through broadcasting by affecting change and worked toward helping other Latinas in the industry. However, she’s an entrepreneur at heart and found herself co-founding a science-based technology company focused on enabling organizations to effectively assess and manage unconscious bias in the work environment. She’s an expert at seeing gaps and coming up with solutions.  During our conversation, Michele vulnerably shares about how the loss of her infant son 20 years ago changed her perspective on everything. From that experience, as an optimist, she learned to take calculated risks because after experiencing that loss–”What’s the worst that can happen?” She believes in the importance of focusing on gratitude as a key to her survival. Her joyfulness comes through in the time she spends with us in this podcast. Join us as she shares her insights about how you don’t have to have all the answers to move forward toward success. Visit gobeyondbarriers.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 Michele. Highlights:  [02:53] Michele’s background [05:33] How Michele gained clarity about her pursuits [11:43] The loss that defined Michele’s life [14:29] The “Holy Hour” practice [18:17] Building strategic relationships [24:09] Curbing your anxiety about networking [26:00] Michele’s daily rituals of success and having gratitude [30:53] Tying your passions into work [35:52] Lightning round questions   Quotes: “You don’t always have to have the answers, but recognize if you could just identify the right people and build from there, that’s a great thing.” – Michele Ruiz “I realized from the long term I could have a bigger impact having companies.” – Michele Ruiz “Passion is what keeps you going on the toughest days.” – Michele Ruiz Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “When you were born, the people around you were laughing and you were crying. Live your life so that when you die, you’re the one who is laughing and the people around you are crying.” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Tenacious What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  More sleep. Eight hours of sleep. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor About Michele Ruiz: Michele is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker at conferences around the world. Michele’s wide range of ventures include co-founding BiasSync, a science-based technology company designed to enable organizations to effectively assess and manage unconscious bias in the work environment. She is a trusted advisor to senior executives at Fortune 20 multinational corporations and some of today’s highest profile thought leaders and elected officials. Michele’s passions range from mitigating unconscious bias using scientifically validated methodologies to exploring leading-edge technologies. She is widely recognized and sought out as a subject matter expert in empowerment, entrepreneurship, sophisticated communication strategies, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). In addition to her work with BiasSync, Michele leads Ruiz Strategies, a certified minority-owned (MBE) and woman-owned (WBE) business, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with operations in Washington, D.C., and Houston, Texas. The firm specializes in change management and DE&I consulting for large corporations and government agencies. Michele’s deep entrepreneurial experience has been instrumental in her quest to educate, inspire, and empower business owners. Her online mentoring program, Possibility Architect©, is designed for female entrepreneurs determined to scale their businesses over $1 million in annual revenue with corporate and government clients, drawing upon her own experience and success. Michele founded her first company, SaberHacer.com, a bilingual expert-based “how-to” educational broadband site for U.S. Latinos online. She launched the successful video-on-demand site to provide quality information for U.S. Latinos when she determined a void of culturally relevant content for Hispanics. Her mission has always been simple: to do what she can to help people and change lives. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Michele Ruiz enjoyed a long career as an award-winning broadcast journalist and received 16 Emmy nominations during her news broadcasting career, 5 Emmys, 4 Golden Mikes, and LA Press Club Awards. A prominent keynote speaker on a wide range of topics, Michele inspires and motivates her audiences with singular, compelling storytelling skills —all drawn directly from her own life experiences. Some of the topics Michele speaks about include business communication, unconscious bias, entrepreneurship, leadership, and empowerment. Michele has been a member of the Association of Transformational Leaders since 2016, and has spoken at major conferences around the world in the United States, Sweden, Singapore, India, and Turkey, to name a few. She is widely quoted and featured as a sought-after thought leader in major media outlets, including Forbes, CNN, The New York Times, and many others. Michele regularly shares insights with more than 100k followers through her many communication outlets, including blogs, videos, and more. Michele’s first book, Content Marketing for Lawyers, was published in 2016. The best-seller helps attorneys use powerful content marketing and social media strategies that Michele has developed for her Fortune 20 corporations to attract more clients and become a legal thought leader. “It may well be the most valuable business development book you will ever read,” is just one of the many reviews of the book. Links: Website: https://micheleruiz.com/  LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheleruiz1/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/micheleruiz01  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicheleRuiz. PublicFigure  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micheleruiz/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MicheleRuiz/videos