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DISCLAIMER ALL LANGUAGE HEREIN IS THE PERSONAL OPINION OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND NOT THAT OF ANY ORGANIZATION WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER WE SPOKE TO ANOTHER 20 INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN BUSINESS AND GOT THEIR TOP TIPS WOULDN T IT BE AMAZING IF WE ALL SHARED WHAT WE WISH WE KNEW That is what this guide is all about the best of the best sharing what they have learned and wish they knew so that future generations can learn and grow Connect with Jillian WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS Living in an abundance mindset is where it is at There is enough for everyone and sharing freely without expectation is growth for you as well Enjoy Sabrina Jillian Connect with Sabrina

SONI JIANDANI SHE HER SABRINA SHAFER CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER PENSANDO SYSTEMS TOP TIPS CEO TRANSFORMATION CONTINUUM 1 Surround Yourself with the Best It doesn t matter if you re a leader or an individual contributor strive to be part of teams focused on excellence open communications and your customers Bring the absolute best players to the table people who are experts but are also multi dimensional Once you have them keep them Be radically honest about where you are what your goals are and what s holding you back There is no room for hurt feelings in team communications 2 Focus on your Customers Your customers are your lifeblood your best advisor and your greatest champion Don t view them as a PO but as an extension of your team They are the most important factor in your success yet many companies view them as a nuisance or afterthought which is a recipe for disaster in the long term 3 Patience is a Virtue I wish I d learned this earlier in my career Whenever you re facing a challenge really take the time to listen and understand why things are working or not Establishing a continuous feedback loop as you work to address problems is critical to building a successful solution There s no point in solving a problem if no one cares about it or your solution is too complex

HONORE LABOURDETTE SHE HER VP VERTICAL INDUSTRIES TME EDGE RED HAT TOP TIPS 1 Always bring your authentic self to everything you do Along with the willingness and appreciation for taking on new challenges that demand you move out of your comfort zone 2 Work for a Leader and Company Who Values Your Best Self Make sure they understand the value of creating an environment for you to be your very best self and do your very best work If you are a leader create that environment for yourself and your teams 3 Having it All is Yesterday s Mantra It is ego centric Aspire not to have it all but rather to experience all that you have the capacity to experience and give all that you have the capacity to give

NORTH AMERICA ISV MARKETPLACE SALES GOOGLE CLOUD TOP TIPS NIRAV SHETH HE HIM 1 Go Big or Go Home Always be ready to be bold think big and be completely dedicated to your mission Life is too short to spend cycles on things you re not fully convicted about and the best innovation comes from bold not incremental thinking 2 Make the news don t report on the news Focus on excellence in what you do delivering results and driving outcomes Being able to execute well is highly under rated don t get bogged down by those that want to report on the news things have a funny way of working out over the long term 3 It is a marathon not a race There is a reason that airlines ask you to put your oxygen mask on first because if you don t you can t help anyone around you Make sure you re staying balanced and ensuring to pay attention to yourself your health your family and your friends The work will come and go but you have to take time to recharge your batteries to ensure success for the long road ahead

RENUKA BHALERAO SHE HER HEAD OF OPEN RAN ECOSYSTEM PROGRAMS META FACEBOOK TOP TIPS 1 Believe in yourself and be unapologetically you Give yourself credit for every small and big win Appreciate your efforts and strength and work each day on delivering with excellence There might be days with challenges accept those and remind yourself to trust your own judgements 2 Set a goal that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning Passion is everything The Technology industry is full of challenges and opportunities Do something you believe in When you are passionate you can be bold 3 Do what is right not what is easy Breaking out of your comfort zone will help you see your real potential One day you will look back and will be amazed at the progress you made

TOP TIPS SUZANNE MCCORMAC SHE HER SR DIRECTOR OUTBOUND MARKETING SERVICE PROVIDER EDGE BUSINESS UNIT VMWARE 1 Always be your authentic self and be confident in your choices When I first began my professional career women were expected to wear conservative suits and adopt a masculine persona to be considered seriously in their careers we were encouraged to be aggressive serious and keep our family life behind closed doors Thankfully the situation has evolved over the past 25 years and women have been able to grow in their careers while being true to themselves whether that means wearing a power suit or jeans and a nice cashmere sweater The important thing is to do your job competently and bring your whole self to the role 2 It s time to put the imposter syndrome to bed It doesn t serve you and only makes you shrink when it s your time to shine The reality is EVERYONE has imposter syndrome at some point in their career not just women The key is to acknowledge it put words to it and then put it behind you Self doubt is a thought and thoughts can be managed by changing your thinking Instead focus on celebrating your current achievements recall past successes and record positive feedback from others that self doubt will quickly turn to confidence and a feeling of belonging 3 Lead and act with compassion We are all in this together To be an effective leader it s important to be thoughtful and aware of what others lives and experiences are like Compassionate leaders create a higher level of employee engagement build robust and trusting relationships at all levels and inspire greater collaboration within organizations and will lead to lower rates of turnover

NICOLE RIVAS SHE HER CHIEF OF STAFF ORACLE TOP TIPS 1 Do what you re passionate about or don t waste your time I ve increasingly learned how valuable time is In fact it s the only asset you can t buy So be obsessive about where you spend your time 2 Common sense isn t that common Each person s common sense is unique to them Don t assume everyone is on the same page with you or underestimate what seems obvious to you 3 Keep the customer in mind at all times That golden rule treat others as you wish to be treated has taken me further than any other piece of guidance Hold true to it by evaluating yourself often and course correcting when you need to

GOPI MANAPRAGADA HE HIM DIRECTOR of PRODUCT MANAGEMENT CLIENT SABRINA SHAFER TOP TIPS SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS ENGINEERING CEO ECOSYSTEM TRANSFORMATION CONTINUUM DELL TECHNOLOGIES 1 Make Yourself Visible In the Zoom world it will be audible Go to key meetings prepared ask questions and drive discussions Framing and asking the right questions to guide the conversation is an art that will become your super strength with practice In the global workspace some women are culturally trained to not ask questions or not to speak or participate in the conversation 2 Define Your Career Roadmap and Identify a Role You Want Identify a vision for yourself create action plans to achieve the goal and don t forget to plan for personal life priorities as well Identifying the role will help you identify who you need as a mentor roles you want to do and skills you want to build Have as many mentors advisors as needed 3 Don t Wait for the Perfect Answer or Career Because they don t exist embrace ambiguity and champion it Sometimes we step into a world that may have been dominated by folks who don t look think or work as you Don t emulate them because that will limit your growth

ANISHA SIVAKUMAR SHE HER VP of CUSTOMER SUCCESS CISCO TOP TIPS 1 From past actions take your learnings While past experiences to a certain degree shape your perspective journey do not feel boxed in and believe that what you currently do dictates your path ahead Take the time to figure out how your experiences can give you a unique outlook as you pivot and with the right attitude commitment and passion nothing limits what you can achieve next 2 Understand the WHY It is not just about understanding what to do next but even more important is asking WHY it needs to be done and how it fits into the bigger picture By introspecting on broader goals it not only helps you envision how you can contribute to something greater than yourself but also empowers you to build better avenues to accomplish things collectively 3 Be intentional with your own style There is no one type of leader or one way of doing something Learn from those around you to find what works best for you and shape yourself the way you aspire to be There is great power in being exactly your own person and unleashing your inner potential each day

TOP TIPS KATE MEINTS SHE HER VP GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS COGNIZANT 1 You can t get it if you don t ask Many times people are just overlooked because no one knows that they want it the promotion the raise the special project Don t assume that you are in line make sure to put yourself in the queue 2 Sell Your Skills Many times especially if you ve been a company for a while managers mentors and peers have not seen your resume and don t have a clear picture of your experience During conversations and meetings don t hesitate to say when I was at X I was successful by YYY 3 Place Value on your Time and Others Will Also Don t over extend yourself just because you can t say no Focus on what you can knock out of the park and that will increase your relevance to your business Don t agree to busy work just because someone asks Being the person who says Yes all the time is not necessarily a positive role TOP TIPS FROM THE TOP

MARJORIE ABDELKRIME SHE HER Head of MultiCloud VMware TOP TIPS 1 Be proactive in your career development Too much of my career was spent waiting on people asking me to do something Looking back I wasn t aggressive enough about setting my own aspirations and timelines Have goals around what you want to do and chart them out I prefer 2 3 year plans over 5 10 year plans because the world changes too fast Whatever timeline you prefer chart your own career Don t wait on the invitations of others 2 Don t allow others to dictate what you can do When you listen to what others think you can or cannot do it becomes your reality You have to make up your own rules Know that it s OK to ask for forgiveness because you may have to when you write your own rules 3 You don t need to know everything When you become a leader of people you can t know everything It can be easy to fall on the pressure to know everything but that is not the case In fact I ve learned over the years that relying on others is a value add

TOP TIPS DOREA GARDNER SHE HER HSR DIRECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AVA SECURITY 1 Explore in the direction of your fear if you have major concerns about toxic culture or safety then RUN in the other direction However if your fear is rooted in fear of failure fear of disappointing others fear of discomfort there is a good chance that is the precise opportunity that will help you grow the most 2 Help others It s not a zero sum game Especially in sales work can get COMPETITIVE but this applies across functions There is no glory in winning or gaining recognition if you do it at someone else s expense or by failing to help coach when you have the opportunity to Lifting others up lifts the whole team company up and in turn lifts you up 3 Advocate for yourself the way you would for your best friend If you are stuck in negative self talk or having a hard time asking for a raise highlighting your accomplishments think about how you would speak to your best friend and how you would advocate for them You would be building them up and highlighting all the amazing things they have done now do this for yourself

SANDRO TAVARES HE HIM DIRECTOR TELECOM PRODUCT MARKETING DELL TECHNOLOGIES TOP TIPS 1 Never Stop Learning Things move very fast today and keeping yourself up to speed is very important It is very easy to become complacent and rest on your what you know now but you should not let that happen Always be generous with your learnings Sharing your knowledge will help others and in turn they will also share with you It s a winwin for everyone 2 Give Clear Feedback and Focus on the Solution The best gift you can give to someone is direct and constructive feedback It helps the person with their development and ensures that the organization will move forward fast Always focus on the solution and getting things done don t cry over spilled milk 3 You Own Your Career Define what you want to achieve and the steps to get there Don t wait for others to decide for you Be clear in your goals and what success looks like for you Share openly and engage the resources to get there

SABRINA SHAFER TOP TIPS CEO TRANSFORMATION CONTINUUM 1 Demand Respect You know your self worth and you know the value that you bring to a team It is up to you to make sure that everyone around you does as well You may have a great mentor in your corner but no one is going to be your personal advocate 24 7 Your time and energy are valuable so when you find team members disrespecting it say something Likewise if you as an individual find yourself being disregarded by peers or leaders because of one difference or another put your foot down early and often Don t make the mistake of tolerating intolerance and be sure to demand respect for yourself 2 Seek New Perspectives Take a fresh look at your current org chart Are you greeted by a diverse team of folks each bringing their own viewpoints Or do you see a homogenous team of like minded individuals If it is the latter take this as an opportunity to seek out new perspectives and bring new learnings into the fold Look across your company identify those who can bring a unique take and give them a seat at the table Look to employee resource groups leaders and active members for input and guidance Diversity of thought is a blessing which takes effort to cultivate and which each of us must choose to embrace 3 Bring Others With You We all get by with a little help from our friends Certainly you didn t get to where you are on your own That s why it is up to all of us to bring others along and create new opportunities for folks who are unlike yourself This can take many forms maybe there is an open role in your organization and a young person you know would be a great fit A little encouragement can go a long way Perhaps you know that you earn more than a close friend of yours be open about your salary and encourage them to seek the compensation they deserve If you see that your company isn t hiring equitably push for new candidate pools We each have a role to play in making our workplaces welcoming to all

JULIE LOWERY SHE HER SR MGR SOLUTIONS ARCHITECTURE AMAZON WEB SERVICES TOP TIPS 1 Talk about mental health The shutdown has really sparked conversations around mental health and it s one of the positives from the pandemic We need to give people permission that it s OK to not be OK Aim to have work life harmony and talk about mental health openly 2 Imposter syndrome is real and it s OK We all have imposter syndrome at some point in our careers The reality is you are where you are for a reason When you know that you are exactly where you should be and that everyone around you has also experienced imposter syndrome at some point it isn t so scary So know that imposter syndrome is normal and completely OK 3 You are empowered to be different I was the only female in the first computer science classes I took I remember people asking me if I felt strange because of it but quite the opposite I thrive on doing something outside the box Aspire to do something that not everyone is doing Be a unicorn in your space

TOP TIPS JEAN MARIE MARTINI SHE HER SENIOR CONSULTANT DELL TECHNOLOGIES 1 2 3 Lead with character it is essential Kindness thoughtfulness and integrity are powerful They remind individuals that they are valued respected and empowered to take risks Leading with character challenges every person to do the same Lead with creativity it fosters innovation Creativity problem solving brainstorming all foster diversity of thought and drive innovation Never limit what is possible unleash the power of creativity see the possibilities pivot when necessary and embrace new opportunities Lead with commitment it builds trust Use open active listening to gain fact based and emotional intelligence to truly know the people around you This builds trust aligns words and actions and helps people work better together

JOSSIE HAINES SHE HER VICE PRESIDENT OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TILE TOP TIPS 1 Build Your Network It s lonely at the top is even more common for women than men especially in tech Make sure to start building your support network early You need allies of all genders in your network to truly thrive 2 Build Resilience It s about being Brave Not Perfect as the title of Reshma Saujani s book states As girls we are raised to be perfect but that s not how you succeed in the board room You need to be willing to take chances speak your mind be willing to make mistakes and be vulnerable 3 Focus on Self Care When the micro aggressions and what I call death by a 1000 papercuts happen on a regular basis we need a framework to be able to survive and thrive in tech To me the key is self care journaling meditating walking and exercising keep me going even when times get tough

TOP TIPS NISHITA ROY POPE SHE HER TECH BUSIENSS LEADER PERSONAL BRAND EXPERT DIVERSITY CHAMPION 1 Invest in and nurture your brand Often the opportunities we receive or the decisions that are made regarding our career occur without us being in the room physically or virtually Because of this reality it s critical that our personal brand is strong and reflects our best attributes This includes how we represent ourselves on social media LinkedIn of course but also our accounts that we consider to be more personal such as Instagram Twitter YouTube etc Our brand also extends beyond social media to our work performance and quality body language tone confidence and attitude A strong brand should be Authentic Relevant and Consistent We can share different pieces of ourselves depending on the audience or situation but they should still be reflective of our greater whole self 2 We all have the power to create positive change No matter one s position title or background we all have the power to have an impact If you want to make your workplace more inclusive step up to create programs and initiatives that focus on diversity Not every idea you pitch will succeed But there will be some that do Regardless you will build a reputation as a change agent and innovator who is willing to approach things in a fresh and unique way to strengthen your business customer experience or communities If we don t try to make things better they won t get better 3 Channel your kid courage Over the past decade I have coached hundreds of people on how to succeed in college and the workplace I noticed a common theme many people lack confidence in themselves and this has a direct impact on their willingness to take risks pursue new opportunities or ask for promotions But since becoming a parent I have gained an entirely new view on how we humans approach things Often young children do not have the same fear of failure or rejection as we adults They possess a unique gift of courage and openness to try new things or ask for what they want toddlers are excellent negotiators if you didn t know The lesson for us is not that we lack confidence or courage but rather we have just lost touch with them We were all children once which means we have everything in us to succeed So what are you waiting for Go channel your kid courage

CHAKA PATTERSON HE HIM PARTNER ALSTON BIRD TOP TIPS 1 Know the difference between mentors and sponsors Mentors are people who can help you think through issues and provide actionable advice and counsel Sponsors can move the organization in your direction Sponsors can put you in a role or put you in the room where it happens You need BOTH kinds of support mentors and sponsors 2 Add value beyond your job description Take things off your bosses plate that are not necessarily work related Ghost write a PowerPoint for your boss for that professional organization she is involved in but has no time to prepare Organize the team outing your boss has no time to organize When you add value in this way you will find that people want to keep you around and will promote you and pay you more in order to do so 3 Take on the assignments no one else wants Take that lost cause project and bring it on time and under budget Turnaround that money losing division Elevate the performance of that person or team that everyone has written off These assignments give you the opportunity to grow your skill set your confidence and your reputation

TOP TIPS PAIGE JOHNSON HINCKLEY SHE HER SR DIRECTOR GLOBAL CLOUD ALLIANCES HARNESS 1 Be Bold and Don t Take the First No In your career it is important to let your manager or others in your company know what your interests are You own your career and if others aren t aware of your aspirations they can t help you Let your manager know your 1 5 year plans so they will think of you when opportunities arise in your organization If they say you don t have the experience for that role ask what it takes and then provide them with information about your background or previous experiences that meet the qualifications If you don t have that experience ask to take on projects to get the experience required 2 Be mindful of your surroundings When you are at industry or company events try and ensure you meet those at the event in person that you may have been working through Zoom to put a face with a name and build trust with the individual on a personal level Always insure at these events you watch your alcohol intake and leave before the event is over a few hours into the event so you are rested and ready for the next workday 3 Negotiate Don t take the first offer Make sure that when you are interviewing you are applying for roles that you want for your next role and stretch yourself to the next level When you have the experience and have built your career ensure you aren t selling yourself short Everything is negotiable for the right role and candidate including title salary variable comp stock options etc Do your research and ask a lot of questions to ensure you are getting the right offer for the position you are seeking

SEAN KINNEY HE HIM EDITOR IN CHIEF RCR WIRELESS NEWS and MANAGING PARTNER FOR CONTENT STRATEGY ARDEN MEDIA TOP TIPS 1 Always Be Over Prepared We all deal with wide ranging internal and external stressors that can impact our personal and professional lives As individuals pursue career growth they ll likely have to pitch ideas and by proxy themselves to decision makers with varying degrees of topic area or institutional knowledge Because success can hinge on the ability to succinctly answer deeply probing technical questions and or high level broad strategy questions you ve got to be prepared for anything and everything While this is certainly a learned skill once it s made a habit you can permanently tick an item off your list of stressors 2 Don t Be Afraid to Ask Questions The more people I manage the less capable I become of approximating their individual skill sets But it s my job to ask the right questions to contextualize how individuals and groups fit into the bigger machinations of company strategy The inverse is true As people rise up the employment ladder it s due to developing a core competency then understanding how it links to other functions From there links between functional groups illuminate how an organization works day to day With that knowledge you re positioned to communicate up down and across a business to not just contribute to but drive strategy 3 You Are Your Best and Sometimes Only Advocate You will be the very first person to realize when your responsibilities begin to expand and become more complex You should also be the first person to point this out to supervisors and begin the conversation around how these changes in responsibility should be reflected in your title compensation and organizational placement and influence larger career progression planning You know what you do and you know what it s worth Don t hesitate to point those things out

SABRINA SHAFER TOP TIPS CEO TRANSFORMATION CONTINUUM 1 Seek Alternate Points of View 2 Prioritize Networking 3 Set Time Aside for Self Reflection Actively pursue perspectives that you know will not be similar to you own Inspiration for our best ideas can come from all levels of the organization but what s important is that the points of view are not an echo chamber Diverse perspectives will create the best solutions for your customers Build a 360 view of your career development from mentors mentees sponsors and peers It s important to remember that not all of your career growth will come from above Some of my best insights came from my work as a mentor I allowed myself to grow and learn from these relationships To create a more inclusive work environment it s important to understand your own unconscious bias Diversity and Inclusion is everyone s job and the most successful organizations make sure all their employees are a part of the message Ensure you make time for yourself and understand where you can make internal improvements that have an impact on the organization

LIZZY DIAZ ORTIZ ESQ SHE HER VP GOVERNANCE INCLUSION BMO HARRIS BANK TOP TIPS 1 Get perspective 2 Take the Harvard Implicit Association Test IAT 3 Focus on changing systems and processes instead of hearts and minds Look outside your industry for a different perspective You can find fresh ideas applicable to your own business or organization by learning what other industries are doing Also it s a lot easier to be noticed and standout when you venture outside your field because you re not merely another amongst many in the same industry such as at a conference Instead if you re the only marketing individual at a legal conference you bring a unique perspective as the only person from a different area plus you won t be in an echo chamber We all have mental shortcuts that protect us in some ways at least historically We tend to be the worst evaluators of our own bias so taking the IAT is revealing at raising awareness of our own biases In my experience great leaders are proven to be more culturally competent and this is a great tool towards building that competency https implicit harvard edu implicit takeatest html If you want to make an impact focusing on neutralizing systems to mitigate bias and affect change are far more effective than trying to sway hearts and minds first To have a greater impact long term focus on what you can transform The rest will follow

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