Is your current job aligned with your passions? Do you have clarity on a career path that will get you to your desired level at your company? According to the Working Mother Research Institute, 77% of women say a top barrier to gender equity is a lack of information on how to advance in their careers. And only 15% of women say that they have clarity on career paths that lead to C-suite roles. Having clarity on your passions and career goals is critical for success. If you don't know where you're...
Mar 07, 2022•15 min•Season 3Ep. 201
This is our last podcast episode of the 2021. And we're so grateful, honored and blown away by the amazing podcast guests we've had on our show this past year. So, we thought what better way to close out the year than to share with you a recap of some of the best and inspirational pearls of wisdom that our guests shared in 2021? In this episode, Nikki and Monica, share nuggets of wisdom from some of the best and brightest minds in business that have been generous in terms of sharing their learni...
Dec 20, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 200
Robin Sharma once said, “Success is not a function of the size of your title but the richness of your contribution.” It's about impact, influence and inspiration. Our guests are a perfect example of the power of sincere and selfless contribution and how it fosters true fulfilment. Meet Dr. Ganesh Natarajan & Dr. Uma Ganesh, Co-Founders of 5F World, who share their career journeys and how their shared values of working for the good of the community and their country has inspired them to creat...
Dec 15, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 199
Regardless of how big our dreams may be, we cannot get there without a compelling vision, specific goals, adaptable roadmap, and daily focus. Most people start out with big dreams but settle for broken ones. Isn’t that the sad truth? That’s why commitment matters. It helps you turn your dreams into your destiny. And when you are able to execute consistently, that’s when you unlock high performance and accelerate success. In this episode, Monica shares why commitment matters, how goal achievement...
Dec 13, 2021•14 min•Season 2Ep. 198
In 2005, Steve Jobs shared a personal story during his commencement address at Stanford. The story was about connecting dots. The central idea behind it was that everything happens for a reason but you won’t know the exact reason looking forward…you can only connect the dots looking back. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, karma, whatever it may be, and move forward with confidence that the dots will somehow connect in the future. So, follow your dreams and do what you love and ...
Dec 08, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 197
Dr. Wayne Dyer, the “Father of Motivation” once said, “In all misfortune there is fortune. With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.” Our guest, Dr. Emily Drabant Conley, shares how she chose to leverage her struggles growing up in the Midwest as a gay teenager in a conversative town to become the leader she is today....
Nov 17, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 196
Do you have clarity on what makes you valuable in the marketplace? Do your competencies align with what is in demand? According to a report from McKinsey & Company, by 2030, more than 800 million people will lose their jobs to automation. Could some of your tasks be easily automated? What percentage of your role might be automated in the future? In this day and age, it is important to understand what is growing in demand so that you can learn the skills and competencies needed for the future...
Nov 15, 2021•16 min•Season 2Ep. 195
Work. Is it something you dread or something you love to do? It’s an important question to ask yourself because it’s what we spend the majority of our adult lives doing. We all want careers that are personally fulfilling and financially secure, but sometimes those two things don’t align and that’s when you might need to make a change to avoid unnecessary disatifaction and dread. Our guest, Neena Newberry, President of Newberry Executives Solutions, had a successful career as a Deloitte Consultin...
Nov 10, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 194
Even at the highest levels in companies large and small, many otherwise strong and bold women struggle in meetings. Many say their voices are drowned out; others say they are ignored or overlooked, and others can’t find a way into the conversation at all. And, in this new era of virtual meetings, the problem has become harder to manage. In this episode, Monica shares women’s stories and experiences in meetings, what the research by Harvard Business Review shows, and how to take your power back i...
Nov 08, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 193
How did you discover your career path? Did you know what you wanted to do from childhood or did you discover it later in life? Perhaps you are still seeking the perfect career for you. Meet our guest, Erica Simpson, Senior Vice President in Business Development & Investor Relations at Shenkman Capital Management Inc, who shares her career journey and how identifying her passions and skills early on helped her navigate a successful career in sales. From having the highest sales of Girl Scout ...
Nov 03, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 192
In the age of uncertainty, you must make it a priority to invest in your own development. That’s the only real security that exists when disruptive change can eliminate jobs or derail businesses unexpectedly. When assessing where you can invest time, energy, and the rest of your resources, spend it on the one thing that no one can take from you — yourself. In this episode, Monica shares why it’s important to invest in yourself, why some women are not investing in themselves, and advice on creati...
Nov 01, 2021•18 min
One of my biggest pet peeves is when a person minimizes someone’s success to “sheer luck” or to being in the “right place at the right time”. Yes, some luck may be involved, but what’s really at the root of their success is preparation. Being prepared to take on an opportunity, even if it’s a stretch. Being ready to learn on the fly and confident you can figure it out. Being curious and hungry to continuously improve and do what it takes to get things done. Luck and success happen when preparati...
Oct 27, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 190
We've all been hearing, reading and in some cases witnessing the talent tidal wave of employee departures during this "Great Resignation". Most assume that employees are leaving for money or better benefits. However, based on the latest research and our own anecdotal data from our Beyond Barriers Accelerator cohorts, what talent is really seeking is a sense of purpose and belonging. In this episode, Monica shares the real reason people are leaving and what organizations can do to stop the attrit...
Oct 25, 2021•15 min•Season 2Ep. 189
Do you ever feel isolated at work, despite being surrounded by people? If so, then it might not surprise you to know that according to a Gallup poll, only 36% of U.S employees are engaged in their work and workplace. Our guest, Dr. Deidre Anderson, Founder & President of Trailblazers, Inc., shares her story of climbing the corporate ladder while realizing that there was a big problem with workplace communities. Dr. D shares how the key to transformation comes from creating an environment tha...
Oct 20, 2021•48 min
Did you know that, according to the 2020 State of Latino Entrepreneur Report, the number of Latino owned businesses has grown 34% over the last 10 years compared to just 1% for all other small businesses? In this episode, Monica shares her story of leaving corporate for entrepreneurship and celebrates winning ALPFA’s Latina Entrepreneur Award. Nikki and Monica also discuss why diversity in entrepreneurship matters, the struggle of scaling your business, and share advice on how diverse founders c...
Oct 18, 2021•16 min•Season 2Ep. 187
Do you ever feel that you are not good enough at work? Well, you are not alone. All over the world, billions of people go to work every day feeling anxious, defensive, isolated, braced for attack, overwhelmed, uncertain that they’re worthy. The good news is that there are actions you can take to disrupt those patterns so that you can build the future you deserve. Meet Susan Winchester, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer for Applied Materials, whose passion is teaching and inspi...
Oct 13, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 186
Do you struggle with indecision and hesitate to take risks? Do you become paralyzed when trying to decide whether to apply or take on a new job? Being indecisive is exhausting. It’s just no fun. But, even worse, it robs you of opportunity! No need to worry. Making decisions might be difficult sometimes. But like any skill, you can get better at it with practice. In this episode, Monica shares why it is important to practice decision-making, how to take risks and minimize uncertainty, and the 5 s...
Oct 11, 2021•21 min•Season 2Ep. 185
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 ...
Oct 06, 2021•35 min
One of the most significant challenges in the workplace, and in everyday life for that matter, that women and women of color have to cope and strategically manage are microaggressions. Dealing with these energy-draining and disempowering comments can take a toll on you. It's like, “Death by 1000 papercuts”. In this episode, Monica shares why it is important to address microaggressions when they happen, how to address a microaggression, and what to do if if you’ve committed a microaggression. DIS...
Oct 04, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 183
Does the idea of change make you uncomfortable? For most people, the answer is yes because let’s face it, change IS hard. But we also know that progress only happens when we step into the discomfort and embrace change. Meet Kimberley Gardiner, SVP & Chief Marketing Officer at Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., who shares her career journey and how the desire for impact led her to become a change agent. Kimberley shares how once she decided to share her ideas authentically, even when they wen...
Sep 29, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 182
Have you struggled with advancing your career and don’t know what steps to take? Do you feel stuck and don’t know who to turn to for help? The key to success is not doing it alone and proactively seeking out the "right" mentors and sponsors. Research has shown that 75% of executives credit their mentors with helping them reach their current positions. That’s a large number and demonstrates the importance of mentors and sponsors on ones’ career. In this episode, we'll discuss the important differ...
Sep 27, 2021•17 min•Season 2Ep. 181
In the past year, we’ve seen some truly alarming statistics when it comes to the workforce. A study by Gallup & ADP Research revealed that only 14% to 20% of employees are fully engaged. Another by Microsoft stated that 41% of the workforce are considering quitting their job. There is no doubt that the future of work needs to be focused more on the employee. Meet Shahana Banerjee, Founder of Just Human | Not Resources (JHNR), whose mission is humanizing work, culture & leadership. Shahan...
Sep 22, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 180
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Have you ever wondered how to address someone Hispanic or felt lost with the nuances of Latino/x culture? Do you say Hispanic, Latino, Latinx? When it comes to this Spanish speaking population, it is very tricky, and even counter-productive, to lump 62 million people and 20+ cultures into one collective group. In this episode, Monica will share insights and best practices to raise awareness of the rich cultural nuances within the Hispanic and Latino diaspora. Don’t...
Sep 20, 2021•20 min•Season 2Ep. 179
What does career success look like? That can be a difficult question to answer if you haven’t stepped back to understand how to actually measure your success. Or understand what success looks like in the environment or organization to which you currently belong. Our guest, Indhira Arrington, Managing Director and Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Ares Management, shares with us the three critical things she identified to be present in all the successful people she encounter...
Sep 15, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 178
When it comes to your career progression, are you actively “leaning in” to create impact and making a difference or are you passively leaning back in your seat, letting opportunities slip passed you? You may be familiar with Sheryl Sandberg’s book, “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead”, where she shares her perspective on what women need to do to move up in the business world, which is: to press ahead, to project confidence, to "sit at the table" and physically lean in to make herself hear...
Aug 25, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 177
Do you shy away from experiences which require you to stand up and speak in front of a group? Do you break out in a cold sweat while making your way up to the stage to speak? In this episode, Nikki shares her first experience with public speaking and the fear that caused her to freeze on stage. She also shares the 3 “P”s to overcoming the fear public speaking. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday & Wednesday. Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you'll find show notes and link...
Aug 23, 2021•18 min•Season 2Ep. 176
Do you have executive presence? Did you know that it can be learned? According to Sylvia Ann Hewlett, 67% of your executive presence depends on gravitas, communication makes up 28% and appearance accounts for just 5%. In this episode, we share the 3 aspects of executive presence as taught by expert, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, as well as tips and strategies for you to gain executive presence and gravitas. Subscribe to get new episodes every Monday and Wednesday. Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com w...
Aug 09, 2021•17 min•Season 2Ep. 175
What’s your story? Have you ever been asked that question during an interview and not known where to even begin? Telling stories about your professional self can inspire others’ belief in your character and in your ability to successfully take on new opportunities or make career transitions. It also can help you believe in yourself. Having a career story gives meaning to your career history; it will assure you that, in moving on to something new, you are not discarding everything you’ve worked s...
Aug 04, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 174
Research shows that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill or craft. That’s why it’s so important that you’re clear on your passion so that you don’t expend that energy and time on something that you simply find boring. Honing your craft takes time, but first it takes awareness of what you love to do. In this episode, we’ll share why it’s important to have clarity on your passion, the steps to identifying your passion, and how to integrate your passion with your work. Take the free assessment a...
Aug 02, 2021•13 min•Season 2Ep. 173
Have you ever been called obsessed, rebellious, or even hot blooded? Meet our guest, Sunny Bonnell, Co-Author of Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different. Witnessing an alarming lack of acceptance for unique people and “crazy” ideas that don’t fit the mold, Sunny co-authored Rare Breed as a manifesto for tearing up the rule book and succeeding on your own terms. In addition to Rare Breed, Sunny Bonnell and co-author Ashleigh Hansberger are also creators of Rare Br...
Jul 28, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 172
