Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like? Did you have any particular experiences/stories that shaped your adult life?

I grew up in and around Detroit, the daughter of first-generation immigrants. We were the only non-white family in my neighborhood and school for many years and it was impressed upon us that we represented not only ourselves and our family but also how a community viewed our race. We were taught to integrate but not to compromise who we are.

What is something you wish you would’ve realized earlier in your life?

I wished I had realized that I could play big, that there the greatest barrier to my success was my own definition of it. I was going by what society defined as success, rather than listening to what my heart and values were telling me.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?

Be patient
Be 100% sure

Tell me about one of the darker periods you’ve experienced in life. How you came out of it and what you learned from it?

At the start of the pandemic, I was floored with grief and desperation for us as a world and society. For about two weeks, I withdrew. What drew me out was my purpose, to help leaders thrive with disruption. Covid was the biggest disruption to hit in our lifetimes and I needed to be of service to leaders. Waking up every morning knowing how I can serve the world has been the biggest blessing.

What is one thing that you do that you feel has been the biggest contributor to your success so far?

Curiosity. I’m genuinely curious about people, how we form relationships, and how technology changes those relationships for better or worse. We, humans, are endlessly fascinating!

What is your morning routine?

Awake between 5:30-6:30 am, feed the cat, squeeze in a workout if I can, get ready, have a protein smoothie, and at my desk between 8 am-9 am. I cut out caffeine so trying to find a decaf tea to add back to my routine!

What habit or behavior that you have pursued for a few years has most improved your life?

Mindfulness has been a huge help in my life in being more focused. Occasionally, I’ll do formal meditation, but mindfulness is built into every aspect of my life to help me be more present. As I wash my hands, I look at the bubbles forming on my skin. In between meetings, I take a few centering breathes before diving into the next meeting. As I’m talking with people at Zoom, I really look at them and try to “see” them. All the while, taking lots of deep breathes to remain calm and centered in a far from the calm world.

What are your strategies for being productive and using your time most efficiently?

#1 is I’m strategic about my email inbox. I triage quickly in the morning, and then snooze the emails (I use Superhuman which makes it very easy) that need follow-up until a specific time later in the day and then plow through them then. Otherwise, I’d start the day responding to people rather than proactively working on the things I need to get done. I also limit my email responses to five sentences – if it gets any longer, I call them.

My day is organized around my Daily Plan, which comes from my Weekly Plan, Monthly Plan, Quarterly Plan, and Annual Plan. Yes, it’s a pain to do and maintain but it keeps me on track! Each week, I take stock of where I am and give an honest assessment of how I’ve done. There’s a lot of red, some yellow, few greens. I can then make adjustments each week.

What book(s) have influenced your life the most? Why?

The Four Hour Work Week was a wake-up call to my corporate business experience. It made me realize that there were alternative ways of thinking and working.

Do you have any quotes you live by or think of often?

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.