Building connections is a critical skill set for career success. Most successful people would agree that the popular catchphrase, "it's who you know, not what you know," rings true in daily life. The fact is, “who you know” might matter more, or at least, be just as important as what you know in getting professional opportunities. Our guest, Rosa Gonzalez Welton, Director of Product Management, Digital Acquisition, Growth and Customer Success at ServiceNow, shares her career journey and why she believes creating and building connections is the key to learning, growing, and fostering relationships. As Director of Product Management, Rosa is responsible for creating experiences across the end-to-end customer journey, from acquisition and growth, through to customer success. Rosa also created her own LeanIn Circle, for Latinas working in tech, a safe space for real talk, inspiration, and support. In this episode, Rosa shares why the best way to learn is by seizing opportunities, the benefits of investing in yourself, her decision framework, and how she gained access to influential leaders, sponsors, and mentors. Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Rosa. Highlights: [02:22] Rosa’s story [04:30] Jumping at opportunities to learn [06:13] Gaining clarity on your career path [08:26] The ROI of investing in yourself [10:24] The importance of community [15:07] Pushing forward through barriers [16:58] Rosa’s decision framework [18:34] Gaining access to influential leaders, sponsors, and mentors [20:43] Asking for help [22:29] Rosa’s daily success habits [24:39] Staying ahead of the curve Quotes: “Sometimes, in an organization, you're in a situation where you're just not going to win. Go where you're valued.” – Rosa Welton “People generally want to help. There is a benefit they get simply by mentoring or coaching others.” – Rosa Welton “The big picture in trying something new is that it’s going to somehow open the door for you to know if that's the direction you want to go or a direction you don't want to go in.” - Rosa Welton “When others are complimenting you or your work, listen to them with an open mind, it will help you to find clarity on your strengths.” - Rosa Welton “It’s important to know when to move on from a company or role. It is equally important to be intentional about where you are going next.” - Rosa Welton About Rosa Welton: As Director of Product Management, Digital Acquisition, Growth and Customer Success at ServiceNow, Rosa Gonzalez Welton is responsible for creating experiences across the end-to-end customer journey, from acquisition and growth, through to customer success. Prior to joining ServiceNow in 2019, Rosa spent 7 years with eBay where she held leadership positions in the consumer selling business; leading teams in product management, strategy, and product marketing. Her experiences building consumer marketplaces include roles at Walmart Labs and TrueCar, where she was an instrumental part of the team that launched the car shopping platform. Earlier in her career, she worked at Forrester Research, the Food Network, and Hearst Interactive. Rosa is originally from Los Angeles and holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and a BA from Yale University. In her free time Rosa sparks connections between people around her dinner table in a drive to cure loneliness. Links: Website: https://www.rosawelton.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwelton/ Latinas In Tech: https://leanin.org/circles/latinas-in-tech
