“Healthcare is one of the spaces where it is so vulnerable, so precious. It’s your health; it’s your life,” says Dr. Sheena Menezes. “Knowing that what we build here at SHK can really impact people’s lives – is what wakes me up every day.”
We talked to Dr. Sheena Menezes, co-founder and CEO of Simple HealthKit, the first and only human-centric healthcare platform that delivers at-home diagnostics, treatment and follow-up care. A rare example of genuine female-led diversity and inclusion nestled right in Silicon Valley, 70% of SHK employees are women and 80% are people of color.
Born and raised in Kuwait, with Indian-Portuguese roots, Dr. Menezes has often spent family holidays focused on social service, empowering young girls at orphanages in India. Early life exposure to vast inequities, as well as loss and health challenges in her own family, inspired her to want to build healthcare solutions that bridge socioeconomic gaps and impact the trajectory of people’s lives – regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or geographic location.
Simple HealthKit empowers people through early detection with physician oversight, knowledge and access to support through an end-to-end system, tackling global health challenges such as STDs, chronic conditions such as diabetes, and the tripledemic.
As of June, Walmart has partnered with Simple HealthKit, making these at-home diagnostic tests now available at the largest retailer in the world. Dr. Menezes believes world-class healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and so SHK addresses high-need and high-impact health challenges in all communities.
On what personally inspired her to launch Simple HealthKit (SHK):
“Some founders have the ‘aha’ moment. For me, it was a journey of multiple forces that made starting SHK happen. From my childhood, I’m an immigrant, or refugee, during the Gulf War. So I’ve seen what it’s like when the lights are turning off, like what’s going on in Ukraine, and people are trying to escape and in camps.
Then, I also have the perspective of living in different countries and seeing wide disparities – some who have everything and some who don’t have anything at all. I was born and raised in Kuwait. I have Indian-Portuguese roots. And then I’m here in the United States. Back in the days while living in different countries, you’re expecting the US is just going to be great. Then you come here, and you realize there’s so much disparity here as well. So that’s one reason.
Also, it’s been having the support system of amazing family and believing we can do something that can really make a difference. Healthcare is one of the spaces where it is so vulnerable, so precious. It’s your health; it’s your life. Knowing that what we build here at SHK can really impact people’s lives – is what wakes me up every day. Think of early detection of STDs or getting an early HbA1c test and how that changes the course of people’s lives. Because often STDs are curable if you know. And with diabetes, with exercise and diet, you can get people back into good health. That’s really changing someone’s trajectory of health.
That’s our ‘why.’ That’s the culture here at Simple HealthKit. What’s your ‘why?’ Why do you want to do this? And it has to be a reason bigger than you. It has to be for people and the fact that you can make a big impact.”
On the difference Simple HealthKit is bringing to people:
“When you think of diagnostic tests, especially the earliest ones like the pregnancy test, you just got a test result. So, you are positive if there’s an extra line there. Now what?
From early on at SHK, we have always believed in the vision that we never want to leave someone disconnected. You want to be able to do a test, and if you’re positive, have that whole journey experience. Whether it’s via phone, tablet, laptop, whatever digital device an individual has – how do we empower that person? Today, for STDs, we did just that. If someone is positive, they are going through Telehealth and they’re getting a prescription. So we are able to impact that individual’s life – not just showing the person they are positive and leaving them with questions such as What do I do? and Where do I go? That’s such a daunting zone to be in.
How many times has each of us felt that Where do I go? And for the first time, we’re creating that seamless sense of “We got you.” We started with STDs. We’re doing that with diabetes and kidney disease, and we’re starting to solve at least the high-impact, high-need use cases and in the best way we can. Sometimes it might simply be a nurse to guide you on the other end of the line and tell you what you need to do next. The whole journey happens with a QR code.”
On what has prepared for her success as a biotech founder:
“There is a lot of training that I had before arriving to this point. I hold an undergrad in computer science. I ended up doing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Bioengineering at University of California, Santa Barbara. I wanted to do something that’s impacting lives and building tools. And so, for my Ph.D. days, I was able to utilize computational bioinformatics, discover a whole new protein (a novel tRNA methylation enzyme) and create a new arm for my Principal Investigator (PI). I had to figure out a lot of unknowns and do it very thoughtfully and methodically, following all the steps in getting publications out. That was definitely good training.
Further, being in any industry, it’s about learning what you must do and working with regulators. You need to understand everything because healthcare is a space where you need to know what you cannot do and what you can do. I’ve had that journey of learning what you must not do and what you must.
I would say that my journey has been to see two sides of a coin. I’ve seen two sides of a coin in my childhood. But I’ve also seen two sides of the coin in healthcare. From that lens, technically, with the right set of people and the right teams – people who are humble, have empathy, have the right experience and can execute – you can do it. Because you could have a dream, but if you can’t execute on the dream, it’s over. You really need to get the smartest, kindest people in the same room and say, ‘let’s get this done.’
It’s never one person. I always say it’s not about one human. It is really about the SHK team that’s able to execute and make SHK what it is today.”
On the team diversity of Simple HealthKit leadership and staff:
“I have been in teams where I was the only woman at the table, let alone the only woman of color at the table and in the leadership role. I do recall there were moments when there were opportunities for women to move up and there were not that many people at that table giving that opportunity. That’s drawn me to a sense that, as a leader, I do have the opportunity to do so.
Also, now that I’m a mom, I see how strong mothers have to be too really do it. And immigrants and people of color, they’ve often had it so hard. They already know what resilience is.
Back in the day when there was only one seat available at the table, potentially, there was competition for that one seat. Now, I really believe in bringing the smartest people onboard, people with resilience, people who can take a ball thrown and get back up. And I feel that is the composition of our team.
And I wanted to make more seats at the table that increase the diversity of leadership and teams. It starts sometimes at the top-down and sometimes at the bottom-up, but you need the leader’s leadership to support that. I’m definitely a strong believer in women, minorities and people of color at the table because diversity is healthy. They say the best teams are the ones who have a diverse team because you’re seeing so many viewpoints and you’re able to capture others’ blindspots. I feel that is what defines the SHK team.”
On the importance of “intention” in bridging differences:
“When you have such a diverse team, there’s going to be language and cultural barriers. Different cultures that have to interact and work together. I used to be president of International Students back at UC, Santa Barbara. When you have different cultures, there’s a lot of things that can be misinterpreted. For example, I use my hands a lot and I might find certain hand movements mean something else in another culture that I did not intend.
One thing that is helpful that I’ve learned, and work with my leadership team on, is to start with your intent. Because there’s a lot about communication that doesn’t land the way you want to say it. Often, simply leading with your intent before you even start the conversation can change the ability to have difficult conversations.”
On her biggest personal growth area as a co-founder and CEO:
“The biggest stretch has been learning multiple hats and learning different subject areas – marketing, sales computer science, quality control, regulatory – and understanding what you need for those elements of success. That’s been amazing and exciting because I’m a learner.
It’s definitely been an exciting journey of learning and you also build more tools of resilience. It’s not all green grass and roses. On different levels, it’s a very humbling journey. Having empathy for yourself and for your team is important. If someone falls down, you have to say ‘let’s get back up, we need to solve this, we need to execute.’ So it’s about being able to do that without reacting.”
On being a female, and women of color, founder in Silicon Valley:
“It’s hard on many aspects. The numbers are there on how many women get funded, how many founding teams have women in them, people of color in them, and other diversity dimensions. Those numbers are real data and it’s true.
But, I also believe differences are our strengths and not something we have to hide behind. So being different but also being super-technical and data-driven changes the conversation. When that inevitable question comes – “What are your numbers?“ – for me, it’s being really strong about it and being thoughtful in what you answer. It’s keeping the stance that this is not about me. This is about the impact we’re going to make in people’s lives.
I would emphasize again it’s about leading with intent – even, the intent I set for myself going into those rooms with VCs. Right now, we’re so blessed. We have amazing VCs. And that’s evident because as the company is succeeding, they’re succeeding. So we’ve got a lot of trust with a great set of VCs. It’s very important to pick the right board and right VCs as part of your team. That can be hard for some founders, but we are in a very healthy and happy position.”
On championing girls and women to take the leap:
“I have a young daughter. I am blessed by that because it’s almost like you see a little ‘you’ in some aspects of the motherhood journey. I’m super passionate about women’s empowerment. I really believe women and people of color have had to build resilience. But I also think it’s so important to not hold yourself back. Too often women say, ‘I don’t know if I can do it. Maybe I need to study this. Take one more course. Wait one more year.’ And I’m like, ‘no, you got this.’
You need to have a support system that pushes you farther but also telling yourself that you have this. Since college, I’ve inspired people to learn, learn, learn. Learn, because you’re the product – what you’re learning, what you’re building – but also you have to also give yourself that strength. When women feel like they can’t do something, I challenge them to go ahead and take an attempt at it. Don’t say ‘no’ upfront. Go ahead and take that attempt to give yourself that time to bring it and then, come up with a plan. Maybe you’ve never done it before. But before you say ‘no,’ go try. Don’t give up too fast. Take a stab at it. Propose something.
I’m happy that I get to be both a cheerleader and support system for women. I’m happy to do any amount of inspiration, because I think there’s a lot of women holding back. Can I be a mom and be a founder? Yes you can. Trust me, you can. So I’m all about championing the ‘yes.’”
On why overcoming challenge means you are very strong:
“This is simple but a super powerful set of advice. A lot of times people feel nervous or fearful. Maybe you even think nobody knows you or that deep inside, you are weak. But your core is a really strong core. That’s what’s been able to get you through those tough times when you were falling but also able to get back up. So remind yourself, you are strong. You did the hard work. You got through. Remind yourself of your successes. Remind yourself it’s just another challenge. If you’ve gone through hardship and you’ve endured an emotionally hard time, then what got your here today is actually your strength.
I’m also Christian, so I was always raised with that spiritual sense of knowing I’m going to do good and God’s going to take care of me. I was also encouraged by my Mom telling me that if you really work hard and put your mind to it, you can get it done with God’s grace. So that’s generally who I am as a person and I have an amazing support system.”
On making a greater impact on lives:
“The vehicle of SHK is massive right with our recent announcement with Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, and the reach of Walmart in rural America and health deserts. It’s literally creating that front door access point for some who never had access. They can get that diabetes test online or at the store, and now it’s telling someone they aren’t tracking right and we have resources that can help them for a lifestyle and nutrition change.
We’re excited about that partnership because of the impact. In America, 40% are pre-diabetic; 80% don’t know. With STDs, one in five adults have an STD and one in two under the age of 24. So it affects young people, college students, young professionals and even among the baby boomers retirement community, we see a spike in STDS. We’re really solving for high-need, high use cases but we also know that early detection can change the course of a life.
Internally at Simple HealthKit, I believe people have also perhaps seen two sides of a coin in the workplace. Maybe they’ve seen healthy and toxic. They’ve seen hurtful and painful and successful and happy. What I hope to create is almost a professional family. Similar to family, it’s not going to be all roses and green grass. We’re going to have things thrown at us. And it’s so important at that moment to get back up, get back to work, figure out what to do and create that bond that is like no other with such a diverse team. I want us to be that exceptional team in Silicon Valley that has more women and women of color at the table delivering and executing on the mission that we set out to do.
For me, creating impact is also about teaching simple things like remembering the strength in your core and having intentions around conversations. My intent is to inspire with those tools. I feel those tools are like your belt of strength for anything – your journey at your work, your journey as a future leader.
I love seeing that one of our leadership team started as an intern and then moved from scientist to associate scientist to taking a leading position in the company. For me it’s so amazing to see growth in individuals and then watch them inspiring another set of leaders. So I feel we can only pass the love, the tools, and the resilience to each other. We can create that spiral effect to the next generation of young leaders.”
On deriving more meaning and fulfillment in work:
“When you wake up, do you feel like this is what you set out to do? Are you happy? You spend a lot of time at work. Like with any relationship, ask yourself, Are you happy? Does it bring joy?
Also, are you doing the right thing? I think it’s important to ground yourself. Do you feel you’re doing good? You’re now in a place where you have a platform, so how can you bring others with you?
Also, think of all the different ways you specifically want to create impact. Go-getters can be racing and have a goal. But, pause. And ask, am I running in the right direction? It’s okay to pause for a good minute, and take that time to think about is this what makes you really, really happy?
For my daughter’s first birthday several years ago, we were at a shelter celebrating with young girls who were rescued from the streets in India. That experience was so amazing, because these young girls have a chance, and that mission was inspiring.
With healthcare, it combines the skills I had and it’s also mission-driven. So, can you combine your passion with your skillset? That’s why I feel like I’m happy, because I am doing exactly that with SHK.”
On gratitude and being present:
“Gratefulness is a big quality in my home and household and my team. Kindness and gratefulness, especially when you’ve seen disparity on the other side of the table. Look at what you have. Start with gratefulness.
My daughter is six years old and my son is three. I love spending time with my kids. I just love their joy. The life and sparkle in their eyes. all the way from doing science experiments at home – they’re super fascinated by that – to going to the beach and parks and swimming.
More than anything, just being present. Because with digital devices, it’s so easy to be distracted. It’s so important to be present. When I am with my children, I am present.”
Interviewed by Aimee Hansen
Rhonda Johnson: CEO, Different Like You, Inc & Acting Deputy Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Intrepid Women Series, People, Voices of ExperienceJohnson speaks about the unfolding of her DEI journey from Wall Street to Washington, D.C., being part of the founding team of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and launching Different Like You, Inc and the Sacki App to weave the principle of inclusion deeper into the social fabric of small businesses and our daily lives.
A Culture Change from NYC to D.C.
Growing up as a New Yorker in a diverse neighborhood, Johnson was struck by the lack of diversity when she entered into Wall Street, often as the only woman or woman of color in the room.
“Different perspectives add value to the solution. If everyone was coming from Harvard or Stanford or Ivy League schools, I felt there wasn’t enough diversity even in the way people think, because they’re trained how to think at these schools,” she recalls. “I was interested in diversity of thought and experience and felt we needed to do something different.”
At James D. Wolfensohn, Inc., a private equity firm, Johnson began recruiting at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), too. Quickly, she witnessed how diversity shifts the culture. She observed how bringing in people of different economic, educational, and ethnic or racial backgrounds disrupts group think and status quo approaches to problem-solving, which also introduces tension.
“At that time, nobody was confronting these questions. What does inclusion look like when you bring in different types of people if we don’t operate on the same plane?” she was asking. “How do we solve this problem?” Diversity was being addressed but inclusion was lacking. Over the years this became a nagging question.
In November 2009, during Barack Obama’s presidency, Johnson moved to Washington D.C. to work in the Office of the Under Secretary for Domestic Finance within the U.S. Treasury. Her boss Jeffrey Goldstein, then chairman at Hellman & Friedman, was nominated to the post and brought her in. She served as a review analyst for two years, during which her passion to advance inclusion increased.
“Back in New York, even though diversity was limited within financial services, I didn’t feel isolated or marginalized, as it was a melting pot. If you work in NYC you are exposed to different types of people as part of daily life. D.C. felt way more polarized. Even where people lived was very racially divided. I was frankly shocked at the difference in culture,” she notes. “It started to slowly change because people of color from across the country were moving to the area to work for Barack Obama, so more racial, ethnic, cultural and economic diversity was being infused into the DC area and the federal government.”
Johnson moved on to become a founding member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in 2011, initially as D&I Program Analyst and then as Senior Advisor, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, before stepping into the deputy director role as of April. Now she focuses on assessing diversity and inclusion within financial services, essentially going full circle to help financial institutions address the challenges she identified early in her career.
Why Diverse Perspectives Bring Creativity
“I am curious about people. I want to hear about your story. I want to know about you, what you’re doing, where you’re trying to go,” says Johnson. “I also want to hear your perspective about solutions we’re working on. I feel no one person has the answer, and all products and solutions can benefit from different perspectives.”
Meeting people where they are and valuing collaboration, she is a furtive gatherer and proponent of the creative value of multiple perspectives.
“So many big decisions have been made by people who were all thinking alike. I feel it’s critical to have different perspectives on solving problems, especially big problems,” says Johnson. “More than one thing can be true. I try to remind people that it doesn’t have to be either/or. It can be and. I like to consider how we can meld ideas to come up with a good solution. If there are two opposing ideas, rarely is one or both entirely wrong.”
She gives the example of a mechanic looking at a problem in the medical field. Their opinion may be invalidated because they’re not a doctor, but being outside of that frame also gives the mechanic an opportunity to see a totally different solution which the doctor may not be able to consider from his vantage point within it.
“When you have diversity of thought, I genuinely believe you open the door to much more and many creative solutions,” emphasizes Johnson. “I often think the creativity lies not necessarily in the subject matter expert, but in the person who is looking at the problem for the first time.”
Raising Her Voice To Advocate for Inclusion
Johnson has always valued giving employees a voice – through surveys with disaggregated data results, through ERGs, and diversity councils. She also had to raise her own voice to make sure that happened.
“I’ve always been that person to fight for the underdog. I don’t like unfairness,” says Johnson. “So anytime I saw unfair treatment, I was definitely always willing to speak up, even in an environment where I didn’t feel like I had a lot of power.”
Early on in her career, Johnson focused on being observant, listening, learning and working hard, not so much on her voice being heard. Until it became necessary. Compared to the NYC culture, where people were more forthright, Johnson found the culture polite and evasive in D.C.
“There was a disconnect between what people were saying and what they were willing to do,” she observed, “I take people at their word. If you say you support this, I expect your efforts to reflect that, and so when that didn’t happen, I would confront the person. I found out people weren’t used to being challenged on what they promised in this space,” she says. “So I had to find a different way than directly calling people out. That’s when I shifted my approach, I started to dive deep into the research to ensure that my colleagues could better understand the importance of diversity and inclusion initiatives being proposed, I began sharing the data behind the strategies, and working collaboratively to gain buy-in and then documenting the commitments people made. It often requires more work to help people understand the importance of equity, so it became more socially acceptable to also hold them accountable.”
Launching a Social Inclusion App
Her professional focus on DEI and the culture shock of moving from NYC to D.C. also spurred Johnson on an entrepreneurial journey. Whereas in the NYC melting pot, she could go into any restaurant and see diverse customers, when going out with friends in D.C., she often experienced being treated differently.
“People take their biases everywhere and if there’s no incentive to check them, they won’t change. We are imperfect and the result of so much we’ve experienced,” she says. “In the corporate world, we get training to check our biases. But I’m not sure that happens at small businesses, merchants, apparel shops, gift stores and restaurants. I felt there was a need for more communication around how different groups of people are being treated – whether it’s because of race, language proficiency, or size.”
She launched differentlikeyouinc.com and the Sacki App. Sacki is similar to Yelp with a diversity matching dimension. Consumers are invited to create a profile and share positive and constructive reviews on their experiences with merchants. Sacki matches consumers (based on their demographic profile) with relevant review data.
In 2015, she first began to frame out the App but then got stalled on development setbacks. During the lull of the lockdown, she decided not to watch television and found that she was re-energized in her passion for developing Sacki.
She notes, “I began to research the impacts on mental health and physical illness from the stress of life for groups of people – Hispanic people, black people, people with disabilities, obese people. All these interactions they have on a day-to-day basis cause so much stress and affect health and mortality,” she says. “How people are treated on a day-to-day basis while going about their lives has such a massive impact on our society, daily micro-aggressions result in anger, frustration, depression, that lead to decisions and behaviors that affect all of us. The goal is that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.”
Johnson’s Sacki App will hold people accountable in smaller, less formal business settings that also contribute to day-to-day interactions. Currently, the Sacki App is in beta in Atlanta. Sacki will go national to major cities within a year and international within a couple of years. Currently, she is in the process of learning how people behave with the App and what modifications need to be made.
Dealing with development, technology and design, Johnson has been stretched by launching an App, but her entrepreneurial spirit had already been there.
“When I went to the CFPB, I had the opportunity to be super creative informing our office, our function and our role,” she says. “There was a lot of opportunity to be innovative and bold because we were just launching and building the agency.
Building A World Without Shells
“I have always been extremely sensitive, and I think I built this shell around myself because it wasn’t working for me,” she recalls, giving the example of a female colleague once stealing the idea Johnson had shared with her and presenting it to their boss. “I felt so naive. Different incidents in the work culture broke my heart. That hardened me. I didn’t trust people.”
Though part of her feels putting a guard up was necessary, she also knows operating with a survival mechanism is not the same as thriving, and she doesn’t want to do it to herself, anymore.
“What’s for you no one can ever take away. Stay true to yourself. Maintain your authenticity,” she would say she has learned through the years. “I think my authenticity is important. Sometimes you have to figure out whether you’re in the right spaces for who you are, who you truly are,” she muses. “Without the shell, I may not have survived in certain environments. Being authentic may lead you to different places and even doing different things. It sounds cliche but I think people should follow their heart.”
Now Johnson is expanding into more of who she truly is while enjoying the culture and nature of Washington D.C., too. The Sacki App, based on inclusion, is her way of trying to impact the world so people can be who they are everywhere they go.
By: Aimee Hansen
Human Design for Leaders: Understanding Your Inner Authority for Better Decision-Making
Career Advice, Career Tip of the Week!What Is Human Design?
Human design is a technique that combines traditional spiritual beliefs from numerous cultures. Each type factors in your place of birth, date, and time before matching you with your inner authority type.
When someone makes a decision, their metacognition draws from their self-confidence to choose the option that best prevents mistakes or loss of resources. Human design types explain where that self-confidence may come from based on your personal body graph. Understanding your intuitive nature may help optimize your choices based on how your natural energy flow utilizes opportunities.
How to Find Your Human Design Type
Inner authority in human design differs in each person because it comes from your unique personality and intuition. Take a quick human design quiz to get your results. Understanding how you’re one of these types could help you feel more confident when making business decisions.
Sacral
Someone with sacral authority might describe themselves as a person who listens to their gut. Their instinctive feelings are their motor because they’ve spent a lifetime weighing choices and learning from mistakes. Sacral-centered people ground themselves in their physiological responses by recognizing signs of stressors, like fatigue, or indicators of good choices, like an even heartbeat.
Making a decision with your sacral chakra could mean feeling a buzz in your body when something is clearly right or wrong. Imagine conducting a department meeting where you must assign someone to a leadership position on a budget revision project. Two of your best team members volunteer, but your gut says to pick the person who evaluates the math while considering the human impact of budget cuts.
A sacral authority type could also heed this skill when leveraging marketplace research during high-stakes negotiations or deciding how to manage a massive portfolio. Your internal comfort or discomfort is a sign your sacral intuition is pointing you in the best direction.
Self-Projected
People who talk through problems to find solutions use their self-projected authority. This could be you if you’re one of the 95% of Americans who reach for the phone first when they need to talk with someone. You could also journal your thoughts before deciding something, meeting with a therapist, or talking with an executive coaching professional.
Take a human design type test to see your results and consider if they match how you typically make decisions. Seeing it in writing may solidify your decision-making process and teach you how to approach challenging professional dilemmas with confidence.
Human design for leaders may lean more into this inner authority type as well because good bosses are in touch with their self-expression. Knowing who you are as a leader and how you operate best is key to a self-projected leadership style.
Self-projectors may start a conversation with another C-suite peer and realize they need to change their daily workflow to become more productive. This design type will best succeed by naming the challenge with their supervisor and verbally brainstorming new ways to increase their productivity.
Embracing this approach is good for numerous reasons. Self-projectors will reach solutions more quickly by working with their human design type instincts. They’ll also demonstrate effective problem-solving and leadership skills by authentically communicating with others around them. It strengthens the entire workplace — starting with a quick human design quiz.
Emotional Solar Plexus
The solar plexus authority centers around emotional waves. You might use this instinct for guidance by following your emotional truth when it points you in specific directions. It’s a crucial part of any workplace because it centralizes everyone’s humanity in business worlds driven by growth charts and revenue.
The most vital part of emotional solar plexus authority is learning your emotional scale. When you feel something, are your emotions reacting at their peak or out of a grounded place in your heart?
Time is the best way to identify this balance. Imagine a team member asking you to plan your workplace’s next holiday party. Waves of excitement and joy overwhelm, instantly bringing to mind ideas for party planning and hosting skills. You recognize how your feelings are a bit strong for the topic, so you let your co-worker know you’ll get back to them tomorrow.
Sitting with the idea overnight allows your emotions to settle back down. You know you’d love to take charge of the party, but emotional clarity reminds you how your upcoming board member meeting require your full attention. The next day, you thank your co-worker for the consideration but pass on hosting duties this year.
Splenic
Spontaneous people often draw their choices from their splenic inner authority. It generates an impulsive energy that is powerful in highly self-aware people. This human design type thrives in roles like entrepreneurship, marketing, and creative director positions. Your splenic authority inspires others through your quick ideas, making this personality type invaluable in the workplace.
Scholars argue that emotions are inherently spontaneous, so people should accept when they happen. Splenic individuals use those same emotions and follow them without overthinking where each path might lead. It’s a skill that makes choices easier if you can identify your automatic emotional responses.
You might listen to your impulses when you get a rush of happiness after solving an efficiency issue with your financial operations team. Listening to your intuition about problem-solving enables you to guide others toward optimized solutions that benefit shareholders and consumers.
Listening to your splenic energy will help you make bigger decisions if you balance it with enough time to consider the pros and cons of your next choice. If a C-suite member asks you whether letting a team member go would be best for their department, the gravity of that decision calls for more time than an instinctive reaction. The intense adrenaline rush is a warning sign that your stress could keep you from seeing the entire situation clearly.
Your initial feelings may be what you go with anyway, but harnessing your splenic mindset and expressing it when you feel is best will ensure you’re a helpful leader in the workplace.
Ego
People with more ego authority tend to consider or prioritize their needs before others. This isn’t always a bad thing, especially if your needs directly tie to your employer’s or company’s.
An executive handling enormous responsibilities every day knows their professional reputation intricately ties to the company they lead. They may push harder for specific changes in brand marketing or business practices so the company works better for consumers, uplifting their reputation simultaneously.
Additionally, this skill can stop massive mistakes from happening. If you’re well-versed in your executive vision, you’ll know which steps could take your teams away from your mission statement in the long term. The personal perspective may save your company from something that costs revenue or even its viability.
Ego-driven choices can also come from a strong desire in your heart. When that overcomes your logical mind, it can leave you emotionally exhausted. It could be easier to make decisions when you note if your ego energy is equally from your head and your heart.
Environmental
Environmental inner authority is another human-design approach to decision-making. Instead of encountering a problem and making a decision based on your instinct, you would wait until you’ve had the chance to consider your response in a more optimum environment.
Emotionally-driven workplace leaders can be engaging and form the heart of their company. It’s also not a skill that’s optimum in every situation. If your human design test result comes back as an environmental authority, you’ll feel more confident in your decisions after spending time in a peaceful place where you can contemplate by yourself.
Picture yourself meeting with the chief financial officer of your company. They mention how it would help quarterly revenue to cut the marketing budget. Reducing your brand exposure instantly feels like a bad idea, but you spend time with the dilemma. Maybe you spend lunch alone in the office kitchen or sit under the stars that night to think it through.
Giving yourself permission to pause is a vital skill in any field. It demonstrates thoughtful leadership and teaches others how to establish boundaries as leaders within their teams.
Lunar
Some people believe they operate best from a place of lunar authority. It means they wait a full moon cycle — 28 days — before making big decisions. Your human design quiz results may reveal this aspect of you, which is a fascinating skill to bring to work every day.
Lunar authority is a lesson in taking time. You won’t be able to wait 28 days for every decision, but it could make the more significant ones more successful. You might use that time to negotiate with others in a series of meetings or plan a detailed campaign approach to expanding your company before committing to anything.
Whether you decide to wait a full month or not, sometimes distance makes it easier to conquer challenges. Don’t be afraid to claim more than a few hours to weigh your options and chart a path forward.
Start Understanding Yourself Better
Inner authority in human design is personal. It depends on your body’s genetic makeup and how energy translates through your chakras. Generating your human design chart will help you connect with your inner authority type and make better decisions in your role as an executive. You’ll know your strengths and potential weaknesses, which is essential for dynamic leaders adapting to industry challenges.
By: Beth Rush is the career and finance editor at Body+Mind. She has 5+ years of experience writing about the power of human design to reveal entrepreneurial potential and time management strategies. She also writes about using the emotion of awe to activate our leadership prowess. You can find her on Twitter @bodymindmag. Subscribe to Body+Mind for more posts by Beth Rush.
(Guest Contribution: The opinions and views of guest contributions are not necessarily those of theglasshammer.com).
Lola Ninonuevo: International Chief Operating Officer, Wells Fargo
People, Voices of ExperienceWhen she was twelve years old, Ninonuevo told her mother she wanted to travel internationally, see the world and become a business woman. Growing up speaking Spanish at home, she then studied Japanese while obtaining her economics degree, began her career in a Japanese bank in New York, and has spent the last 25 years working out of London in global positions, joining Wells Fargo in 2020 to help lead the international business strategy.
Finding a Bigger Reset in London
From early on, her Puerto Rican mom and Cuban Puerto Rican father impressed upon Ninonuevo the value of a good career. She was drawn to banking for the multicultural, international environment and the financial security. In 1991, she took that first trading assistant job with a small Japanese bank in World Trade Center in New York. As the only woman on the trading floor, she both served tea but was empowered early on to take on additional responsibilities such as cash management for the branch and representing the bank at industry round tables hosted by Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank. Having gained experienced in the fixed income market, she then joined BlackRock, which at the time was a start-up and small boutique asset manager, and worked with the founding partners to set up the middle office and trading support functions.
In 1996, she was approached by HSBC to help build out their Global Markets business. She was attracted to their global footprint, and in 1999, she relocated to London with HSBC and went onto work for 23 years across a variety of global roles in the Corporate and Investment Bank. London offered her international travel, a strong learning curve and new career prospects. But what London also provided was a reset and new freedom of self, supported by now being a part of a multicultural global and diverse organization.
“I had not been ‘out’ in the workplace in New York, and that was hard. It impacted my decisions and ability to bring myself to work, for example talking about what I had done over the weekend and attending corporate events with my partner,” she recalls. “I felt more at home in London where I felt comfortable to be more open about my personal life, because I could be Lola, the American woman who moved. Not the Puerto Rican woman. Not the gay woman. It was just Lola.”
Two decades later, in 2020, Ninonuevo was approached for the COO role at Wells Fargo. While still based in London, returning to a U.S. work culture has felt like a homecoming. She notes that John Langley, CIB COO and Head of International, has been a fantastic leader, support and sponsor. Ninonuevo has found a welcoming, collaborative and optimistic culture at Wells Fargo and enjoys connecting with both international colleagues from different backgrounds as well as reconnecting with American colleagues across the US.
“I can be an American advocate while bringing my international perspective to the table to help drive the Wells Fargo global strategy,” she says. “It feels like coming home, and it’s fantastic to be back.”
Creating a Brand of Speaking the Truth
When it comes to rising up to the executive level, Ninonuevo notes self-awareness is critical – including knowing what you’re good at and what you’re not and building a team that complements your strengths and weaknesses. Resilience and being a powerful collaborator are also essential.
“In banking these days, with both the complexity and risk management challenges we’ve had since the crisis, connecting the dots and bringing people together to solve problems is a key part of what I bring to the table,” she reflects. “I really focus on building relationships. I’m honest and candid in my approach.”
Her willingness to be incisive, which found a home in British culture, helped Ninonuevo to breakthrough to the C-suite in 2012. When HSBC was in a crisis with compliance issues, she stood up and spoke truthfully about what was going well and what was not going well. That became a turning point in her career, catapulting her into a global role leading the firm wide compliance transformation across 60 countries.
“When I came in and talked to the board and the regulators, they knew they were going to get honest and balanced feedback. And that became my personal brand – a person with integrity that got the job done. In my opinion, since the crisis, the role of women in banking has become very important in C-suite jobs. Because I personally think we are more inclined to ask difficult questions, be honest, and not just go along for the sake of going along. And that tribal mentality of going along was a pitfall in the industry.”
Pivoting to a Collective Leader Mindset
“In my opinion, being a true leader is not just about managing up anymore or trying to get the next job,” says Ninonuevo. “I genuinely think I should be judged based on the teams I build and how I encourage and empower them.”
This involves a greater level of willingness to let go and let learn.
“When I was progressing through my career, a lot of it was about me and developing my technical skill set: I’ve got to manage up, I’ve got to manage sideways. I’ve got to manage down. All of those facets still exist,” she says. “But that’s the big leadership pivot people don’t realize: You don’t have all the answers. You’re there to listen. You’re there to serve and support others to be successful.”
Visibility has been the major factor that distinguishes the C-Suite from other levels of leadership, and again asks one to evolve.
“The visibility and impact you can have as a C-Suite leader are multiplied. It’s so important to be aware of how you behave, how you treat people, and how you react under stress.”
The Obligation of Being a Voice
“With all the learnings on how important it is to have diversity and diversity of thought around the table, and often being the only woman in the conversation, I feel it’s my obligation to ask those difficult questions and make sure we’re challenging ourselves to do the right things and to hold ourselves accountable,” says Ninonuevo. “So I’ve used the difference as an opportunity to have a voice, to be honest and to say it like it is.”
Ninonuevo has reflected with compassion, too. “When firms are in crisis, they are driven by fear. And when you’re afraid, you basically hire in your own image because you trust it and it’s what you know. Taking risk is hard when you’re in a crisis.”
When it comes to managing your career, Ninonuevo emphasizes to be your own advocate, communicate your ambitions to your stakeholders regularly, focus on your transferable skills and don’t be afraid to go after challenging roles.
“As Citi’s Jane Fraser has spoken to, your career is over decades. It’s not the be-all and end-all. There’s periods where you can really lean in and put 100% into it, and there’s periods where you can’t, and that’s okay as long as you stay connected.”
Why Relaxing Into Yourself Makes All the Difference
Ninonuevo admits that for years, being gay and feeling unable to talk about her life outside of the workplace inhibited her ability to relate and feel belonging with colleagues on a personal level, but that also touches upon everything else.
“In the workplace, people relate and connect by sharing things about themselves, whether it’s their family life, their children, or what they did over the weekend,” she says. “I found it really hard to share because I was self-conscious.”
If she could go back and give her junior self some words to lighten the road ahead, she would advise to be more of herself at work, sooner. But, at times, she worried about how others would react and whether it would count against her. She even got a coach to seek out help in confidence-building.
“After a few seconds of work, he stopped and told me, ‘You don’t have a confidence issue. You’re confident. You know what you’re doing. People enjoy working with you,’” says Ninonuevo. “Then, he said, ‘You just need to be yourself and selectively find opportunities to do that and connect.’”
For her, this meant becoming more willing to bring her full self to work, despite the challenges she felt. As a change agent, once she becomes aware of something, Ninonuevo starts to move forward in a more effective way.
“Before that, I’m sure I was projecting a lack of confidence. But I was just closed with that part of myself. But the more that I was myself, the more I relaxed, my body language relaxed and people relaxed around me,” she says. “I started being more approachable, people enjoyed working with me more, and I got results from that. I actually had more gravitas because I felt relaxed and confident and became a better communicator, and it all started coming together.”
Ninonuevo is a dual citizen, practices pilates and enjoys walks. She loves spending time with her six year old daughter, traveling and good food and wine. After a month in Spain, she’s been inspired to get her Spanish fluency to where it was those years ago, back when she first professed to her mother that she would become an international business woman…let alone, fill a big seat in the C-Suite.
By Aimee Hansen
Making Your Mark as a Female Entrepreneur (+Statistics)
Career Advice, NewsFrom identifying a niche to building a solid network, developing a business plan, and embracing digital marketing, we’ll provide insights and practical tips that can help women entrepreneurs achieve their goals and overcome obstacles. Then, we’ll share some women in business statistics so you can see real-world examples of how women are currently leading the charge.
So, whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting as a young woman in business, read on to discover how to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into a reality.
Find a niche:
When starting a business, identifying a gap in the market that you can fill is essential. This could be a product or service that’s not currently available or an area where there’s a lack of competition. Conduct market research to identify potential opportunities and validate your ideas.
Steps to building a strong network:
Networking is an essential part of entrepreneurship. Building a solid network is an integral part of entrepreneurship—especially in industries completely dominated by men. Here are some steps to help you build a strong network:
1. Identify your goals:
Before you start building your network, you must identify your goals. What do you want to achieve? Who do you need to connect with? Having a clear idea of your goals will help you focus your efforts and build meaningful relationships.
2. Attend events:
Attend networking events, conferences, and industry associations. Look for events that are relevant to your industry or interests. This will help you connect with other like-minded individuals and potential customers.
3. Join online communities:
Join relevant online communities and participate in discussions. This could be on social media, forums, or other online platforms. This will help you build relationships and gain insights from others in your industry.
4. Leverage existing relationships:
Remember your existing relationships. Reach out to former colleagues, classmates, and acquaintances. Tell them about your business and ask for introductions to potential customers or other relevant individuals.
When building relationships, it’s important to be genuine and helpful. Refrain from approaching networking with a transactional mindset. Instead, focus on building meaningful relationships with others. Offer value and help others whenever possible.
5. Follow up:
After meeting someone, be sure to follow up. Send an email or connect on LinkedIn to stay in touch. This will help you maintain relationships and keep the conversation going.
By following these steps, you can build a strong network to help you succeed as an entrepreneur. Building relationships takes time and effort, but it’s worth it in the long run. You can also nurture an inner circle of women as you network — this can help support your growth and advancement in your industry.
Develop a business plan:
A business plan is a roadmap for your business. It outlines your goals, strategies, and financial projections. A well-written business plan will help you stay focused and on track. It will also be useful when seeking funding or investment.
Embrace digital marketing:
Digital marketing is an effective and cost-efficient way to promote your business. Use social media, email marketing, and other digital channels to reach a wider audience. Develop a content marketing strategy that provides value to your audience and positions you as an expert. This is especially important in key job markets where women are underrepresented, like STEM.
Continuously learn and adapt:
Entrepreneurship is a learning process. Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and innovations. Attend conferences, read industry publications, and seek out mentors and advisors. Be open to feedback and adjust your strategies accordingly. Continuously improving and adapting will help you stay ahead of the competition. These statistics are a great way to learn from the past to be a force to be reckoned with in the future:
By following these strategies, female entrepreneurs can increase their chances of building a successful business. Staying focused, working hard, and persevering through challenges is important for success. With dedication and some luck, you can turn your entrepreneurial dreams into a reality.
(The opinions and views of guest contributions are not necessarily those of theglasshammer.com).
First, The Glass Ceiling – Now, Women Fight Robots for Their Careers
Career Advice, Career Tip of the Week!Recently McKinsey Global Institute released the study, Generative AI and the future of work in America. The report was a measured exploration of “Which jobs will be in demand? Which ones are shrinking? And which ones could be hardest to fill?” The headlines in the media were quite different. “Nearly 80% of women’s jobs could be disrupted, automated by AI.”
In reality, what the studies said isn’t really new. It’s the same American story, different facts. Replace “AI” with “pandemic” or “economic downturn” and experts arrive at the same conclusion. In times of upheaval, the people who are hit the hardest in America are women, particularly women who are members of targeted groups with less power and privilege.
Here’s how women can prepare and optimize opportunities for the AI era.
1. Take “STOP AI” off the table .
We can no better stop the AI train than we can stop capitalism. Despite this, many people are working to stop companies from using AI technology instead of humans. This is a losing battle. We live in a capitalist society where maximizing profits is the priority. There are some uses of AI which absolutely can be regulated, such as the demands outlined in the SAG strike. That said, AI isn’t coming, it’s already here. McKinsey estimated that “half of today’s work activities could be automated between 2030 and 2060.” The question isn’t if, or even when. The question is what can you do to prepare?
2. Give the right support to the right people.
Women and people of color in low wage jobs without higher education are most likely to be impacted by AI. They are fourteen times more likely to have their jobs disrupted than higher-wage positions. For these women, education and training to keep up with this emerging technology is a must. Unfortunately, childcare responsibilities still disproportionately fall on women, and this takes a toll. For example, according to the KFF Women’s Health Survey, during the pandemic, “Three out of ten working mothers said they had to take time off because school or daycare was closed.” If women don’t have access to affordable childcare, they are the childcare. Women must have access to training and education, but this is impossible for many without care for their children. They must go hand in hand.
3. Make a difference.
One critical way to claim space is to support other women. If you’re a leader in the public or private sector, work to implement new practices and programs now to position your employees for success in the new era of generative AI. For example, even if your organization doesn’t have the budget for in-house education, experts are now predicting that “Implementing AI can bring about a transformative change in access to education through the creation of personalized learning programs that are tailored to suit each student’s unique learning style, preference, and aptitude.” In other words, AI can help you scale and tailor education for your employees affordably. Get creative about making a difference.
4. Robot-Proof Your Job.
Women are conditioned to be caretakers both in their actions and their communication. This has often resulted in women doing jobs which capitalize on our ability to read people and communicate well, the jobs that require soft skills. The great irony is that soft skills have traditionally been devalued by many because, well, when women go into fields, the field gets less respect and pay. Yet in the new world of AI, those are the very skills that AI just can’t do well. For example, teachers, nurses and therapists are not predicted to be replaced by AI any time soon. If you have soft skills, go into fields that require them, or use those skills to help you stand out in your field. Jobs where humanistic tasks are required, or will augment the job, will be much safer from displacement. If you don’t feel your soft skills are strong, it’s time to brush up on them.
5. Take Advantage of the Positives .
AI is positioned to help women more than men in ways we really need it. One example? Domestic labor. Women have been held back for years by the amount of time they spend on domestic labor. A Pew Research study just recently reported that, “Even when earnings are similar, husbands spend more time on paid work and leisure, while wives devote more time to caregiving and housework.” Should relationships be more equitable? Of course. But they aren’t, and AI has the potential to allow women with the financial means to lessen their domestic load. In fact, research suggests AI may be able to automate about 39 per cent of domestic work within 10 years. Find every advantage like this and capitalize on it.
6. Position Yourself for Success.
This is a pivotal moment in history where women can jump into a field that men do not yet fully dominate. Take every opportunity to educate yourself about this emerging technology while it’s developing. By doing so you will not only survive, but you will position yourself as a leader. If your employer doesn’t support continuing education, get ahead of the problem and think about finding a place that does now. Think ahead so you don’t get left behind.
We can’t stop the AI train. But unlike other times in history, we know this train is coming, and we can prepare for it. This is a moment for women to uplift each other and succeed in a field we have not yet been shut out of. Technological apocalypse need not be our destiny. Women shouldn’t just survive the AI train. With the right preparation, we can thrive.
By: Eliza VanCort, Transformation Teacher and #1 bestselling author of A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space: Stand Tall. Raise Your Voice. Be Heard (named Maria Shriver’s book of the week), who has dedicated her life to empowering women to live bravely and claim the space they deserve.
(The opinions and views of guest contributions are not necessarily those of theglasshammer.com).
Why Introverts Make Powerful Leaders
Career Advice, Career Tip of the Week!, NewsWhat Is an Introvert?
An introvert is someone who may keep to themselves more often than not. They recharge their batteries by working and relaxing alone and may prefer small groups to large gatherings. However, being an introvert doesn’t mean someone is afraid of speaking or can’t step up to be a leader. Around 12% of people identify themselves as completely introverted, often drifting toward extroverted partners who likely can help them express themselves better.
Some traits commonly associated with introverted people include the following:
These traits are loosely related to introverts, meaning they may not fit every introverted person and might even relate to some extroverts. Many introverted people enjoy being around others and participating in social activities — they may just choose to take part on their own terms.
Introverts and extroverts have their places in business. However, workplaces with extroverted leaders yield 14% lower profits on average. While every person is different, introverts more often have traits that would make for exemplary leadership.
3 Stellar Traits of an Introvert Leader
Introverts often have traits that ensure they can lead teams well. Sometimes, the best leader isn’t an outgoing one who blazes the way — it’s the strong one who quietly reassures their team while supporting them from behind and picking them up when they fall. Strong leaders allow their employees to stand on their own without getting in the way of their successes, but they’re always there to provide guidance and offer a listening ear.
Many introverts are born with traits that naturally help them grow into better leaders than their peers. While some introverted people may not feel comfortable leading large groups, their quiet awareness and thoughtful decision-making can be vital to any team.
1. Expert Listening Skills
Many introverts prefer to listen over talk, participating more passively in conversations. Because they spend less time talking, they can study their conversational partners and pick up on small nuances, especially tone and body language, making them experts at listening to and reading people.
For example, something as simple as the pitch of someone’s voice can indicate whether they’re nervous or confident, something that people who aren’t as intuitive wouldn’t pick up on. Introverts might be able to identify these subtle changes in a person because their listening skills are often sublime.
2. Sincerity Above All
Extroverts can be genuine, too — they may find it easy to connect with other people and praise them for their exploits. However, you may be less likely to receive compliments from an introvert. Since introverted people often don’t talk as much as extroverts, going out of their way to compliment someone might mean much more than an extrovert who praises someone whenever they get the chance.
Around 96% of people feel praise makes them more productive, so an introverted leader who genuinely expresses their opinions is a must-have in any business. An introverted leader will assess the situation and praise anyone who deserves it — and they’ll be able to guide anyone who needs assistance.
Similarly, introverts will stand up for themselves. Introverted people may often come off as shy, but in a workplace, they can feel empowered to stand behind their decisions and won’t let people walk all over them. An introvert can exude confidence just as much as an extrovert, so employers can feel assured in enlisting an introvert in a leadership space.
3. More Creative Solutions
Extroverts and introverts can both be creative, but since introverts use self-reflection and think before acting, they have more time and opportunity to develop innovative solutions to tricky problems. When in business, you must understand situations from several angles. Having someone who considers every perspective is vital to the well-being of any company.
The best decision-making process relies on gathering the necessary information and sitting with it before making any conclusions too hastily. Many introverted people prefer to wait before making a decision and think over all the possible outcomes and variables so they understand the facts before making a decision. This person is valuable for any business, especially during times of crisis.
Introverts often use their intuition, leading them to success and practical decision-making. As a result, they’re more likely to realize when someone needs a little extra encouragement or just a friend to lean on. They’ll likely ensure everyone is involved in a project or feels appreciated in their team. That way, these leaders know everyone is included in a group.
How to Make Yourself a Better Leader
The good news is you don’t have to change yourself to become a better leader or pretend to be something you’re not. Both introverts and extroverts are valuable in leadership roles — as long as they demonstrate the right skills to prove they can support a team.
If you want to gain some of the most beneficial traits of a powerful leader, you’ll have to tap into yourself and learn how to reflect and listen more than you talk and act. Introverts make great leaders because they tend to solve problems more effectively, adding immense value to their company.
Here are some soft skills you should work on building if you want to succeed in a leadership role:
You shouldn’t have to change who you are to fit any role. However, improving certain skills and learning different methods of problem-solving and communication can benefit you as you transition into a leadership position.
Introverts Are Some of the Best Employees to Have
Introverts tend to lean on the more intuitive and reflective side, making them an asset to any business, thanks to the skills they’ve honed in their interactions throughout the years. They’ll provide a fresh viewpoint and sage wisdom after thinking over certain possibilities. While some introverts might not have the best conversational skills, they’ll do their jobs to the best of their abilities and tackle new things that come their way.
However, both introverts and extroverts can make great employees. The best team members are well-rounded and demonstrate characteristics that will help a business flourish and positively affect company culture. One personality trait can’t guarantee a good leader, but it can help people understand where they’re lacking and how they can improve for the sake of their workplace.
By: Mia Barnes is a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in mental wellbeing and workplace wellness. Mia is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind magazine, an online women’s health publication.
(The opinions and views of guest contributions are not necessarily those of theglasshammer.com).
Alison Taylor: Investment Vice President, PGIM Real Estate
Movers and Shakers, PeopleTaylor joined PGIM Real Estate after graduating from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. She had an initial introduction to real estate through prior internships and coursework but found a home at PGIM, and she has grown within the company into a leadership role.
“The longer I worked here and the more I learned, the more interesting real estate became – especially the debt side,” says Taylor. “It surprises me how much I continue to enjoy and feel challenged by the work and the opportunities that have been afforded to me here at PGIM.”
Continuing to Learn Each Day
“No day and no deal are the same,” says Taylor. “Each day presents a different challenge, and I can truly say that I learn something new every single day.”
She loves the variety of her days, which has progressed by the shifting office dynamics during and following the pandemic. As a self-starter, Taylor works independently, pacing herself towards deadlines, which serves in her multi-faceted role. “I have a lot of different responsibilities and work cross-functionally with people across the business, but I’m able to keep on track, juggle a bunch of things and know what needs to be placed on the back burner.”
Taylor feels she brings realness to the table, but she proves that it doesn’t have to hit hard – that people can assert their own opinions while valuing others’.
“I’m very to the point, but not in an aggressive manner. When I was working on the originations side of the business, I was able to pass on a deal or let someone down nicely, but they would still walk away feeling good about themselves,” she says.
Lessons Learned Growing into a Leadership Role
As someone who was driven to grow into a leadership role, Ali shared several tips to help achieve the next level – and beyond – of her career, despite what tensions and challenges she faced.
In her ever-evolving role, Taylor notes that being approachable is not only important in showcasing her desire to learn and take on more responsibilities to senior leaders – but it is also important in demonstrating the importance of quality work and strong leadership attributes to her junior team members.
“There can be a double-edged sword as I weave my personal stories into my professional relationships, so I can build and continue to maintain them. I have this ability to connect with younger colleagues who may view me more as a friend while still being able to be taken seriously,” she says. “You need to strike a balance of approachability and authority, so that when we’re actually working on projects and dealing with teams, everyone sees that this is business. I expect very high-quality work and sometimes, we’ll be working late. But I’ll be there right alongside my colleagues.”
Currently, Taylor sees herself straddling the line between taking on the responsibility of seniority and still actually doing the work to show more junior members how it’s done and what’s expected.
“It can be a weird limbo state, where you’re not quite the final decision-maker, but you’re experienced enough to know what will drive successful outcomes for the company,” she says. “That can be a challenge day-to-day.”
As she has risen through the ranks, Taylor has started to learn the art of delegation and saying ‘no.’
“When you’re junior and hungry, you work late, so you can take it all on. However, I think it serves your growth to start setting boundaries as you advance. I don’t have children yet, but I am still going to sign off at a reasonable time and have a nice dinner with my husband,” she says. “You need to set boundaries, and sometimes, it means saying no or that you’ll look into something at a later time – as your schedule and workload permits.”
She notes this is especially important after working remotely during the pandemic, which created an expectation of 24/7 availability.
“It’s important to not always be accessible via setting clear boundaries, such as calendar blocks and/or letting colleagues know you’ll get back to them,” she says. “Once you’ve reached a certain point, where people know you are responsive and trustworthy, you can put those boundaries in place, and there’s something powerful about that.”
Recently, Taylor received the feedback that she needs to work on being too responsive. Rather than going with her gut reaction to respond immediately, she was advised that, ‘Sometimes, you need to sit on things to let both parties think. Once you have, you’ll come to a better conclusion.’
Receiving that advice was somewhat liberating, as Taylor has realized some matters work themselves out over a walk or a ponder, without needing immediate response or engagement. Plus, she notes her initial gut response is not always the most thoughtful or comprehensive.
Leading with Connection and Collaboration
“Everyone talks about how male-dominated commercial real estate is, but I feel like I’ve worked at a company with better gender balance and that helps grow and support female leaders, which has been amazing,” says Taylor. She has been shown that it’s okay to leave work for a priority at home or family activity to attend to.
“The best leaders I’ve seen have always made time for people – regardless of level and the topic of conversation,” she says. “When meeting with senior leaders, I feel like they’ve given me their undivided attention, which shows me they care and want to help me learn and succeed.”
In fact, even though she often finds herself in back-to-back meetings, Taylor makes relationship-building one of her top priorities, dedicating time to foster connections – no matter the workload.
When it comes to the PGIM work culture, she enjoys being surrounded by smart people who are willing to put in the work to get the job done, while also respecting personal boundaries and valuing work-life balance.
“The structure is not very hierarchical in that everyone is very accessible up to the MD level. For being within a Fortune 500 company, it feels like a lean entrepreneurial structure,” she observes. “Everyone is trying to advance our initiatives and share information, so it’s a very collaborative environment. It fits well with my personality, which is probably why I’ve been here for more than a decade.”
Acting As a Chameleon – Leveraging Her Strength of Adaptability
When thrown into new situations, Taylor remembers what a previous manager told her – that she adapts well to a new environment because not only does she take her responsibilities very seriously and make intelligent decisions, but she also knows when she needs to ask for help. Although some may find asking for help to be a weakness, it’s something Taylor considers to be a strength, enabling her to better understand her work or situation she is facing.
In her career thus far, the ability to assess and adapt to situations has enabled her not to stress the small stuff as much. She admits that it used to bother her if she wasn’t invited to a property tour or closing dinner after a deal she’d worked hard on, but after a few years, she realized that more than enough invitations will come along – so there’s no need to covet them.
“At a certain point in your career, you’re being asked to travel to this and that. You’ll have too many things to attend and will be pulled in different directions,” she says. “It’s a thirty- or forty-year career, so you don’t have to do it all within your first couple years. Just put your head down, do the work and form those relationships because it’s a small sector and everyone’s paths cross again.”
Be Yourself, Everywhere
When it comes to looking ahead, Taylor aspires to continue rising into leadership roles and gain more people-management experience. She also hopes to continue doing the things she loves, such as traveling to new places, curling up with a good book (her most recent read is Rules of Civility, after reading A Gentleman in Moscow by the same author) and working out – all activities that she attributes to keeping her mental health strong.
She loves traveling and planning international trips and visited Dubai and the Maldives in January for her own honeymoon.
Morning workouts are an important part of her routine to maintain balance, and she especially enjoys boxing as an energy outlet.
Taylor once heard that the most successful people are the same exact selves in their personal lives as professional lives.
“You don’t have to come in like a professional bulldog and run the show if that’s not really your personality. You can still be successful,” she says. “The mentors that have most inspired me blend both worlds and stay true to themselves.”
By Aimee Hansen
Op-ed: The Shepherd Leader
Career Advice, Op-EdThe path is rugged; there are steep slopes, fences to open, streams to cross, dry patches, predators, and enticing pastures farther away. I have a clear direction in my mind. I am looking simultaneously at the pack and at the road ahead. I attend to both, what is now, and what may come. I am in the front to decide a direction at a fork, or to examine a narrow path. I am in the heart of the pack if someone is stuck, to remove the blockage, to keep us moving on. I keep an eye on those veering off, as they may be onto something of value; if they veer too far, the task is to bring them back. I am totally hands-on.
I am not a Visionaire or a Storyteller, but as Shepherd Leader, I have vision: of the goal, of the road ahead, of key actions necessary to get us where we want to go. I believe that Full Leadership has Side and Underside. Yin and Yang. The Visionaire inspires the team with a High Vision, the why and a shared desire for the goal. But alone, the Visionaire cannot get us there. The Shepherd inspires later -as we traverse the challenges of the path- with her actions, her values, and her unflagging commitment to move us through. The vision keeps us high above; the reality of the path forces us to ground. We need both, Visionaire and Shepherd to take us through.
As Simon Sinek stated: “Genius is in the idea. Impact, however, comes from action.”
This Shepherd Leader image is supported by Linda Hill’s article “Leading from Behind” in Harvard Business Review, in which she argues for “harnessing the collective genius”- encouraging members to contribute their skills for collaborative problem solving and innovation. She compares this to the work of a shepherd who leads from the rear, allowing the more able to run ahead for others to follow. “It is about empowering others to lead in addition to yourself. It’s about being in front when there is danger, but allowing others to join with independent thought, creativity, and exchange of ideas.”
Curious about shepherding, I read Ken Downer’s article “9 Secrets of Leading Sheep” and Robert Moor’s shepherding story, part of his book On Trails. As they both explain, collective thinking looks down on sheep as passive, blind followers – but, in fact, they are absolutely not. Downer and Moor describe that sheep can be head-strong, energetic, or languid; that they are ungovernable when hungry; that they have strong spatial memory, but without the shepherd, they will wander around; and that they build strong trust in their good shepherd. Among sheep there are Leaders who seek the front, Middlers who prefer the center, and Tailers who stay in the back. There can be multiple leaders, emerging in different situations.
Thus, a shepherd does not passively lead “from behind.” Leading the herd takes effort, planning, experience, and requires vigilance and example. In shepherding there is Intended Direction and there is Intentional Action. The shepherd will take the front when needed, when there is danger, when decisions are to be made. All leadership incarnations are active.
In telling his experience in the British Army in WWII, my father writes: “In moments of calm, the Commander can enjoy some treats, but in times of combat or action, it is the commander who steps in first, leads by example, and attends to everyone, playing the role of leader, father, and server, all at the same time.” As expressed by Simon Sinek: “Leadership is not a rank to be attained. Leadership is a service to be given.”
The Shepherd Leader:
Purposeful. A Shepherd exercises influence purposefully; a goal, a direction is established, and the Shepherd ensures everyone gets there. There are dangers and opportunities along the way.
Hands-on. The Shepherd is hands-on, committed to move the herd, whatever it takes. The Shepherd is constantly scanning for danger, food, shelter, and direction forward. When action is required, the Shepherd will step in.
Strategic. The Shepherd applies foresight. The Shepherd must view the moves ahead of the flock to plan the route: Where is there water? Good pasture? When/where can we rest if the heat is too much?
Creates Culture. The first steps tend to dictate the next. A wise Shepherd will establish pace and patterns from the start and will adjust to what the flock brings, too.
Allows Exploration. A member may wander off; the Shepherd will observe, as the explorer member may lead to a good pasture that otherwise might be missed.
Aligns. The Shepherd works the flanks of the herd to keep everyone aligned; Laggards are brought in.
Mentors. Shepherds train their leader members to help move the flock at the right pace and in the right direction. A Shepherd exercises influence through and with others.
What is your leadership style?
By: Liora Haymann, Managing Director, OBMI International
(Guest Contribution: The opinions and views of guest contributions are not necessarily those of theglasshammer.com).
Dr. Sheena Menezes: Co-Founder and CEO, Simple HealthKit Inc
Intrepid Women Series, People, Voices of ExperienceWe talked to Dr. Sheena Menezes, co-founder and CEO of Simple HealthKit, the first and only human-centric healthcare platform that delivers at-home diagnostics, treatment and follow-up care. A rare example of genuine female-led diversity and inclusion nestled right in Silicon Valley, 70% of SHK employees are women and 80% are people of color.
Born and raised in Kuwait, with Indian-Portuguese roots, Dr. Menezes has often spent family holidays focused on social service, empowering young girls at orphanages in India. Early life exposure to vast inequities, as well as loss and health challenges in her own family, inspired her to want to build healthcare solutions that bridge socioeconomic gaps and impact the trajectory of people’s lives – regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or geographic location.
Simple HealthKit empowers people through early detection with physician oversight, knowledge and access to support through an end-to-end system, tackling global health challenges such as STDs, chronic conditions such as diabetes, and the tripledemic.
As of June, Walmart has partnered with Simple HealthKit, making these at-home diagnostic tests now available at the largest retailer in the world. Dr. Menezes believes world-class healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and so SHK addresses high-need and high-impact health challenges in all communities.
On what personally inspired her to launch Simple HealthKit (SHK):
“Some founders have the ‘aha’ moment. For me, it was a journey of multiple forces that made starting SHK happen. From my childhood, I’m an immigrant, or refugee, during the Gulf War. So I’ve seen what it’s like when the lights are turning off, like what’s going on in Ukraine, and people are trying to escape and in camps.
Then, I also have the perspective of living in different countries and seeing wide disparities – some who have everything and some who don’t have anything at all. I was born and raised in Kuwait. I have Indian-Portuguese roots. And then I’m here in the United States. Back in the days while living in different countries, you’re expecting the US is just going to be great. Then you come here, and you realize there’s so much disparity here as well. So that’s one reason.
Also, it’s been having the support system of amazing family and believing we can do something that can really make a difference. Healthcare is one of the spaces where it is so vulnerable, so precious. It’s your health; it’s your life. Knowing that what we build here at SHK can really impact people’s lives – is what wakes me up every day. Think of early detection of STDs or getting an early HbA1c test and how that changes the course of people’s lives. Because often STDs are curable if you know. And with diabetes, with exercise and diet, you can get people back into good health. That’s really changing someone’s trajectory of health.
That’s our ‘why.’ That’s the culture here at Simple HealthKit. What’s your ‘why?’ Why do you want to do this? And it has to be a reason bigger than you. It has to be for people and the fact that you can make a big impact.”
On the difference Simple HealthKit is bringing to people:
“When you think of diagnostic tests, especially the earliest ones like the pregnancy test, you just got a test result. So, you are positive if there’s an extra line there. Now what?
From early on at SHK, we have always believed in the vision that we never want to leave someone disconnected. You want to be able to do a test, and if you’re positive, have that whole journey experience. Whether it’s via phone, tablet, laptop, whatever digital device an individual has – how do we empower that person? Today, for STDs, we did just that. If someone is positive, they are going through Telehealth and they’re getting a prescription. So we are able to impact that individual’s life – not just showing the person they are positive and leaving them with questions such as What do I do? and Where do I go? That’s such a daunting zone to be in.
How many times has each of us felt that Where do I go? And for the first time, we’re creating that seamless sense of “We got you.” We started with STDs. We’re doing that with diabetes and kidney disease, and we’re starting to solve at least the high-impact, high-need use cases and in the best way we can. Sometimes it might simply be a nurse to guide you on the other end of the line and tell you what you need to do next. The whole journey happens with a QR code.”
On what has prepared for her success as a biotech founder:
“There is a lot of training that I had before arriving to this point. I hold an undergrad in computer science. I ended up doing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Bioengineering at University of California, Santa Barbara. I wanted to do something that’s impacting lives and building tools. And so, for my Ph.D. days, I was able to utilize computational bioinformatics, discover a whole new protein (a novel tRNA methylation enzyme) and create a new arm for my Principal Investigator (PI). I had to figure out a lot of unknowns and do it very thoughtfully and methodically, following all the steps in getting publications out. That was definitely good training.
Further, being in any industry, it’s about learning what you must do and working with regulators. You need to understand everything because healthcare is a space where you need to know what you cannot do and what you can do. I’ve had that journey of learning what you must not do and what you must.
I would say that my journey has been to see two sides of a coin. I’ve seen two sides of a coin in my childhood. But I’ve also seen two sides of the coin in healthcare. From that lens, technically, with the right set of people and the right teams – people who are humble, have empathy, have the right experience and can execute – you can do it. Because you could have a dream, but if you can’t execute on the dream, it’s over. You really need to get the smartest, kindest people in the same room and say, ‘let’s get this done.’
It’s never one person. I always say it’s not about one human. It is really about the SHK team that’s able to execute and make SHK what it is today.”
On the team diversity of Simple HealthKit leadership and staff:
“I have been in teams where I was the only woman at the table, let alone the only woman of color at the table and in the leadership role. I do recall there were moments when there were opportunities for women to move up and there were not that many people at that table giving that opportunity. That’s drawn me to a sense that, as a leader, I do have the opportunity to do so.
Also, now that I’m a mom, I see how strong mothers have to be too really do it. And immigrants and people of color, they’ve often had it so hard. They already know what resilience is.
Back in the day when there was only one seat available at the table, potentially, there was competition for that one seat. Now, I really believe in bringing the smartest people onboard, people with resilience, people who can take a ball thrown and get back up. And I feel that is the composition of our team.
And I wanted to make more seats at the table that increase the diversity of leadership and teams. It starts sometimes at the top-down and sometimes at the bottom-up, but you need the leader’s leadership to support that. I’m definitely a strong believer in women, minorities and people of color at the table because diversity is healthy. They say the best teams are the ones who have a diverse team because you’re seeing so many viewpoints and you’re able to capture others’ blindspots. I feel that is what defines the SHK team.”
On the importance of “intention” in bridging differences:
“When you have such a diverse team, there’s going to be language and cultural barriers. Different cultures that have to interact and work together. I used to be president of International Students back at UC, Santa Barbara. When you have different cultures, there’s a lot of things that can be misinterpreted. For example, I use my hands a lot and I might find certain hand movements mean something else in another culture that I did not intend.
One thing that is helpful that I’ve learned, and work with my leadership team on, is to start with your intent. Because there’s a lot about communication that doesn’t land the way you want to say it. Often, simply leading with your intent before you even start the conversation can change the ability to have difficult conversations.”
On her biggest personal growth area as a co-founder and CEO:
“The biggest stretch has been learning multiple hats and learning different subject areas – marketing, sales computer science, quality control, regulatory – and understanding what you need for those elements of success. That’s been amazing and exciting because I’m a learner.
It’s definitely been an exciting journey of learning and you also build more tools of resilience. It’s not all green grass and roses. On different levels, it’s a very humbling journey. Having empathy for yourself and for your team is important. If someone falls down, you have to say ‘let’s get back up, we need to solve this, we need to execute.’ So it’s about being able to do that without reacting.”
On being a female, and women of color, founder in Silicon Valley:
“It’s hard on many aspects. The numbers are there on how many women get funded, how many founding teams have women in them, people of color in them, and other diversity dimensions. Those numbers are real data and it’s true.
But, I also believe differences are our strengths and not something we have to hide behind. So being different but also being super-technical and data-driven changes the conversation. When that inevitable question comes – “What are your numbers?“ – for me, it’s being really strong about it and being thoughtful in what you answer. It’s keeping the stance that this is not about me. This is about the impact we’re going to make in people’s lives.
I would emphasize again it’s about leading with intent – even, the intent I set for myself going into those rooms with VCs. Right now, we’re so blessed. We have amazing VCs. And that’s evident because as the company is succeeding, they’re succeeding. So we’ve got a lot of trust with a great set of VCs. It’s very important to pick the right board and right VCs as part of your team. That can be hard for some founders, but we are in a very healthy and happy position.”
On championing girls and women to take the leap:
“I have a young daughter. I am blessed by that because it’s almost like you see a little ‘you’ in some aspects of the motherhood journey. I’m super passionate about women’s empowerment. I really believe women and people of color have had to build resilience. But I also think it’s so important to not hold yourself back. Too often women say, ‘I don’t know if I can do it. Maybe I need to study this. Take one more course. Wait one more year.’ And I’m like, ‘no, you got this.’
You need to have a support system that pushes you farther but also telling yourself that you have this. Since college, I’ve inspired people to learn, learn, learn. Learn, because you’re the product – what you’re learning, what you’re building – but also you have to also give yourself that strength. When women feel like they can’t do something, I challenge them to go ahead and take an attempt at it. Don’t say ‘no’ upfront. Go ahead and take that attempt to give yourself that time to bring it and then, come up with a plan. Maybe you’ve never done it before. But before you say ‘no,’ go try. Don’t give up too fast. Take a stab at it. Propose something.
I’m happy that I get to be both a cheerleader and support system for women. I’m happy to do any amount of inspiration, because I think there’s a lot of women holding back. Can I be a mom and be a founder? Yes you can. Trust me, you can. So I’m all about championing the ‘yes.’”
On why overcoming challenge means you are very strong:
“This is simple but a super powerful set of advice. A lot of times people feel nervous or fearful. Maybe you even think nobody knows you or that deep inside, you are weak. But your core is a really strong core. That’s what’s been able to get you through those tough times when you were falling but also able to get back up. So remind yourself, you are strong. You did the hard work. You got through. Remind yourself of your successes. Remind yourself it’s just another challenge. If you’ve gone through hardship and you’ve endured an emotionally hard time, then what got your here today is actually your strength.
I’m also Christian, so I was always raised with that spiritual sense of knowing I’m going to do good and God’s going to take care of me. I was also encouraged by my Mom telling me that if you really work hard and put your mind to it, you can get it done with God’s grace. So that’s generally who I am as a person and I have an amazing support system.”
On making a greater impact on lives:
“The vehicle of SHK is massive right with our recent announcement with Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, and the reach of Walmart in rural America and health deserts. It’s literally creating that front door access point for some who never had access. They can get that diabetes test online or at the store, and now it’s telling someone they aren’t tracking right and we have resources that can help them for a lifestyle and nutrition change.
We’re excited about that partnership because of the impact. In America, 40% are pre-diabetic; 80% don’t know. With STDs, one in five adults have an STD and one in two under the age of 24. So it affects young people, college students, young professionals and even among the baby boomers retirement community, we see a spike in STDS. We’re really solving for high-need, high use cases but we also know that early detection can change the course of a life.
Internally at Simple HealthKit, I believe people have also perhaps seen two sides of a coin in the workplace. Maybe they’ve seen healthy and toxic. They’ve seen hurtful and painful and successful and happy. What I hope to create is almost a professional family. Similar to family, it’s not going to be all roses and green grass. We’re going to have things thrown at us. And it’s so important at that moment to get back up, get back to work, figure out what to do and create that bond that is like no other with such a diverse team. I want us to be that exceptional team in Silicon Valley that has more women and women of color at the table delivering and executing on the mission that we set out to do.
For me, creating impact is also about teaching simple things like remembering the strength in your core and having intentions around conversations. My intent is to inspire with those tools. I feel those tools are like your belt of strength for anything – your journey at your work, your journey as a future leader.
I love seeing that one of our leadership team started as an intern and then moved from scientist to associate scientist to taking a leading position in the company. For me it’s so amazing to see growth in individuals and then watch them inspiring another set of leaders. So I feel we can only pass the love, the tools, and the resilience to each other. We can create that spiral effect to the next generation of young leaders.”
On deriving more meaning and fulfillment in work:
“When you wake up, do you feel like this is what you set out to do? Are you happy? You spend a lot of time at work. Like with any relationship, ask yourself, Are you happy? Does it bring joy?
Also, are you doing the right thing? I think it’s important to ground yourself. Do you feel you’re doing good? You’re now in a place where you have a platform, so how can you bring others with you?
Also, think of all the different ways you specifically want to create impact. Go-getters can be racing and have a goal. But, pause. And ask, am I running in the right direction? It’s okay to pause for a good minute, and take that time to think about is this what makes you really, really happy?
For my daughter’s first birthday several years ago, we were at a shelter celebrating with young girls who were rescued from the streets in India. That experience was so amazing, because these young girls have a chance, and that mission was inspiring.
With healthcare, it combines the skills I had and it’s also mission-driven. So, can you combine your passion with your skillset? That’s why I feel like I’m happy, because I am doing exactly that with SHK.”
On gratitude and being present:
“Gratefulness is a big quality in my home and household and my team. Kindness and gratefulness, especially when you’ve seen disparity on the other side of the table. Look at what you have. Start with gratefulness.
My daughter is six years old and my son is three. I love spending time with my kids. I just love their joy. The life and sparkle in their eyes. all the way from doing science experiments at home – they’re super fascinated by that – to going to the beach and parks and swimming.
More than anything, just being present. Because with digital devices, it’s so easy to be distracted. It’s so important to be present. When I am with my children, I am present.”
Interviewed by Aimee Hansen
Vanessa Rodriguez: Head of Community Lending & Investment, Commercial Real Estate, Wells Fargo
People, Voices of ExperienceRodriguez shares on interviewing for a senior promotion while becoming a mother for the first time, learning to show up authentically regardless of who is in the room, and her commitment to coming at life and work from a genuine and constructive perspective.
On A Mission Towards Affordable Housing
After completing her B.S. in Business Administration from the UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business, Rodriguez was recruited to join the Wells Fargo Financial Analyst program in the Company’s Commercial Banking business. In 2007, she moved to NYC to take a position in Wells Fargo’s Real Estate Merchant Banking business, jumping into the hot seat just before the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) hit in 2009.
“I had no clue as a young banker how bad it could or would get. I’d never seen a market cycle,” she says. “Being in commercial real estate, specifically in workouts, in NYC during the GFC was intense but an amazing and enriching experience. Three years felt like ten years and only elevated my interest in building my career in commercial real estate.” She began to rise in the ranks, leading teams in NYC and then back home again in the San Francisco Bay area. In the past couple years, she took the opportunity to further expand her real estate career by becoming the Group Head of Wells Fargo’s Community Lending and Investment (CLI) group.
“Affordable housing is one of the Bank’s top priorities, and this was an opportunity to lead a premier affordable housing team and large national business at Wells Fargo,” says Rodriguez. “It’s exciting to look at commercial real estate from a different angle and immerse myself in this new ecosystem – which includes non-profits, housing authorities, foundation work, government and community relations, public policy state and local governments.”
Rodriguez notes that providing a quality, affordable home to all must be a top priority everywhere in the US. In the San Francisco Bay Area, many of the families and friends she grew up with have had to relocate to attain good, cost-effective housing. Some now have 2-3 hour super commutes to work.
“It’s really sad when you become priced out of the place that you grew up, and that’s happening for more and more people across the country,” she says. “There are so many amazing things here in the Bay Area- the outdoors, the moderate climate, the diverse culture, so many top notch universities, the innovative tech industry, think tanks and VCs. But the downside is an extremely high cost of living in which regular people are forced out, breaking up families and communities, and negatively impacting the landscape. We need to work on these problems in communities across the country, and I want to be a part of that solution.”
Taking a New Role While Welcoming Her First Born
At a certain point as you ascend in leadership, Rodriguez notes that the path can become less clear. What your next step will be depends on investing in a lot of self-reflection and soul-searching around core questions: What do you want to do? How do you want to spend your time? Where can you add the most value? Because ultimately nobody else is going to be equipped to hand you those answers.
Such a moment came for Rodriguez when she was 41 years old and seven months pregnant with her first baby in 2021. The opportunity to run Wells Fargo’s CLI group came up, and she “looked away, frankly.”
“This is the value of having those strong personal and professional relationships in your life, whether they are formal or informal mentors or sponsors or ultimately over time perhaps become friends after years of working together” she says. “I had some of these people call me and say, ‘Don’t look away from this. It’s probably tough to think about a new opportunity now or interviewing for a new role at eight months pregnant, but do not check out right now.’”
So, despite how daunting it felt, Rodriguez began the interviewing process while pregnant in her third trimester, finished while on maternity leave, and ultimately returned to work in a new position. She had a second child in November 2022, and appreciates Wells Fargo for the support she’s received: assuming the role at this stage in her life has included managing her own high expectations around her career and motherhood, working hard to deliver, but speaking up where flexibility is needed. Rodriguez is inspired that while there are many things about parenthood that remain unique to women, parental matters are seen less and less as only women’s issues.
“But I will say that every day, I am forced to make decisions about where I am most needed because there are only so many hours in the day,” she admits. “I would love to get up every day and have my set routine, but my current state is more like a Rubik’s cube, where I move this piece down, pull it up here, take the lever off here, and make tough decisions about what I can and can’t do today. The truth is it’s not always graceful but tomorrow is always another chance to improve and do it better.”
Building Your Personal and Authentic Brand
“From the beginning of my career, I always focused on treating every single task like it was very important. It was all about building my personal brand,” she notes. “I tell young people: ‘You need to sweat the small things as well as the big things as you build your brand. Make your mark. What do you stand for? What are your standards on the quality of your work product and how do you approach it?’ Because if you build that personal brand and do great work for people, there is a multiplier effect where people start asking for you and saying your name in the room when you’re not there.”
Yet keeping your head down isn’t enough. Rodriguez also focused on real estate being a people business, and the importance of connecting, regardless of whether she may have initially felt like an outsider, to gain a strong network and the right visibility. Rising into that confidence to bring more of herself to the table has been immensely important to her growth.
“Twenty years ago, I entered the space focusing on being less visible. Over time, I realized there is a lot lost when you try to fit the mold, when you do not bring your full self to work, your best self to work” says Rodriguez. “We can and should bring our personal style and unique experience to work and connect in different ways. I certainly would encourage that in a sea of many, be memorable.”
Being extremely competent, authentic and walking the walk are important to Rodriguez’s sense of personal brand. As a leader, she never asks anyone to do something she hasn’t done or wouldn’t do herself. She prefers to roll up her sleeves. She values genuine and transparent communication and people feeling comfortable enough to share their unique perspectives.
“I want to bring value to people, whether it’s my clients, my team, or senior management, and what it means to bring value is going to be different for every situation,” she notes. “I hope that when I’m not in the room, people say she brings leadership value everyday, and she brings it in an authentic and genuine way – and we enjoy being in her orbit.”
Belonging, Irrespective of the Room
When it comes to entering a room where she may be the only woman, let alone the only Latina, Rodriguez says, “It starts with whether any of those factors intimidate you. I’ve always just prided myself on not being intimidated, even if there were moments I could have been.”
“When I enter the room, I focus on being prepared for the content of the meeting, on being a good listener, on finding solutions,” she says. “I focus on the principles that matter, irrespective of who’s in the room and whether you’re the only woman.”
While she’s had many moments of feeling she wasn’t part of the club and remembers once being told it was a career-limiting move not to golf, Rodriguez comes back to her confidence in the subject matter and being memorable because of her difference.
While twenty years ago, she may have gone with a strategy of blending in, today she would advise: “Embrace who you are and everybody else will be richer for it.”
Maintaining A Constructive Mindset
“There’s a moment, which is certainly an adjustment, when you’ve reached the point in your career where the buck stops with you in leadership. I’ve always been someone that took responsibility and was willing to make decisions, but when you get to the level where you have complete ownership from start to finish, it’s no longer someone else’s problem in leadership,” she says. “It’s ‘we’ and it’s ‘me.’ You’re not alone – you have peers, a whole team, a manager – but it’s embracing an entirely new level of ownership and responsibility.”
At that level, Rodriguez has embraced the advice to be vigilant with her mental approach, day-to-day and in all parts of life.
“How constructively you approach anything is going to be the difference-maker for you and for all those who work with you and for you,” she says, “When you hit those roadblocks and it’s tempting to pivot to feeling captive or negative, I force myself to remember that the only way out is forward. Approach issues constructively and that will help you rise above the challenge or circumstance, to focus on a solution.”
She continues, “I’ve needed that encouragement at times. We could waste time wallowing, but the work will be there tomorrow. So give yourself a few minutes, if you need to take a step away, do. But then, come back to it, calmly and constructively. That’s what I want to exemplify for my team, the leader I want to be. Cooler heads will always prevail.”
Keeping the Perspective of a Longer Arc
Twenty years into her work journey, Rodriguez would also advise that it’s okay to slow down and pace yourself: “If we’re lucky, the career is long. We live in a culture of instant gratification and are wired to constantly seek it. Technology only serves to reinforce and accelerate the need for instant gratification,” she notes. “But you truly have to toil away at something to really learn it, to master it, to become an expert, to unlock the benefits and skills that will propel you to that next level. The corporate ladder is really a staircase with various landings along the way and you have to play the long game. Climb the staircase…”
With two little ones at home, Rodriguez observes that “six months feels like a night” and time feels more precious than ever. Rodriguez loves spending time with her kids, husband and extended family. She’s seeking to weave back in her wellness focus and routine, and having enjoyed much travel before motherhood, muses on family travels to one day come.