Years ago, over lunch, a former colleague named Anna described her life as a race between two full-time jobs that refused to align. I can still see her sitting across from me, struggling to keep her composure. A successful attorney and mother of three young children, she was constantly pulled Read more…
BY SUZANNA DE BACA, STORY BOARD ADVISORS CEO I still remember standing in my living room as a teenager, watching campaign ads for Roxanne Conlin on the television. I did not know Roxanne Conlin personally. I did not understand all of her policies. But I knew one thing clearly. She Read more…
Author’s note: This article is the fourth installment of a multipart series exploring the power of mentorship in shaping modern leadership. Inspired by a recent Fearless survey in which 86% of respondents reported that a mentor directly supported their career advancement, we set out to understand why mentorship remains one Read more…
Author’s note: This article is the third in a multipart series exploring the power of mentorship in shaping modern leadership. Inspired by a recent Fearless survey in which 86% of respondents reported that a mentor directly supported their career advancement, I set out to understand why mentorship remains one of Read more…
I still remember sitting in a small, brightly lit office across from the hiring manager as he slid the offer letter across the table. My heart pounded. At age 24, I wanted to ask for more but the words never came. Instead, I smiled, thanked him and accepted. That same Read more…
A few weeks ago, I took on an engagement with a CEO who was looking for help on some big strategic questions. The work was timely and fascinating, just the kind of challenge I enjoy. What gave me pause was the time commitment. It was a fast-moving project that would Read more…
Not long ago, a friend who was preparing an important announcement asked me to “be a hummingbird” for her. I knew exactly what she meant: spread the word, carry her story from one place to another, just like Hummingbirds, a successful Iowa tech startup built on influencer marketing. When I Read more…
Last month in Fearless, I reflected on the awkward pause many of us feel when praise or an award lands at our feet. That instinct to deflect or downplay is common, especially among accomplished women taught to equate humility with worthiness. But once we’ve mustered the courage to say “thank you” and Read more…
It happened again. I received a call about receiving an award – and my immediate instinct was to resist it. A familiar whisper began in my head: “This can’t be right. There are countless others far more deserving.” My brain, it seems, has a default setting for “deflect and deny.” Read more…
The air in the interview room felt thick with expectation, a familiar pressure I’d come to know well throughout my career. I was interviewing for a leadership role at an investment firm, a position that felt like a natural next step, yet a quiet part of me wondered if I Read more…