We have all been faced with a simple statement: “Tell me a little bit about yourself.”

And I ask: “What exactly do you want to know about me? How much is too much information to share?”

I’m going to share a few examples of my picture-perfect introduction that started as an idea I heard from a sales leader a few years ago. I thought it was a brilliant idea to get to know more about your teammates and for them to get to know you. …

Fascinated by habits and patterns, I started to observe and pay attention to find value in my day-to-day activities — the ones we always do but don’t think about as much.

Little did I know, the practices that I brought into my work over the past few years have been researched and proven techniques in Cal Newport’s book Deep Work. It brought joy to know that I’ve been taking the right steps toward a meaningful career and to remove “busyness” from my work dictionary.

This is a good place to be — to know what your day is worth and…

As we wrap up 2020, many of us have a lot to be thankful for and have come to understand what truly matters. We have also seen some amazing examples of innovation and disruption amid the pandemic across customer and employee experiences.

Innovation has ranged from curbside pickup to contactless payment at restaurants and grocery stores to e-learning in schools. Some of the businesses that were able to adapt even thrived from the opportunities in these uncertain times.

The reality is, customer experience (CX) is not a standalone experience. CX and employee experience (EX) go hand in hand. Each customer…

Why do we get excited about some opportunities, and other times we look for a place to hide?

When I read Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, it brought back memories of my learning habits and patterns. We have both a fixed and growth mindset — it’s a matter of nurturing the right mindset.

As a student, I loved mind-mapping. It was my way of visualizing everything I learned, from high school to graduate college. I enjoyed capturing ideas and concepts visually, and it helped me remember for tests.

In a recent manager training session, we…

Old patterns creep in. It doesn’t take much time. You can fall back into them before you know it. When was the last time you listened to your emotions and accepted your feelings? How can we be more mindful at work?

After a few weeks in my newest role, I was determined to start new patterns, continue the practice of mindfulness and stop old, counterproductive habits. With that in mind, here are my top tips on promoting mindfulness and finding your balance while working from home.

Let go and breathe.

Work can feel overwhelming, and we may forget to send ourselves messages of kindness…

I first felt my heart skip a beat when I learned about belonging, along with diversity and inclusion, from Pat Wadors. Her DIBs course changed my world.

You might be constantly asking the question: “Do I fit in on this team and in this company?”

Now, a better question to ask is: “Do I belong on this team and in this company?”

To “belong” is a simple word, but it has grown to mean a lot more. In every team, workplace and community that you are a part of, ask the question “Do I belong?” versus “Do I fit in?”

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Finding the true essence of Product Marketing. Ingredients for PMM recipe: messaging and positioning, buyer persona, product and solution launch, market and competitive intelligence

Product Marketing comes in different flavors. I like to think of it as a culinary experience — the same ingredients with a few secret spices can change the flavor and taste. I heard about a genovese ramen yesterday and I couldn’t imagine the flavors until the host mentioned its creamy and delicious and brings together the culinary worlds of Japan and Italy.

When I started to learn about product marketing, I had to find out what our secret ingredients would be. …

Looking to the leaders of today to inspire the leaders of tomorrow

As part of a mentorship program, I had a few folks ask a million-dollar question: “How do you trust your leader?”

What gives someone the confidence to take that leap of faith?

I set out to find some answers.

Reflecting on leaders who have inspired me, I asked myself the following:

• What makes these leaders inspiring?
• How can we trust these leaders?
• How do these leaders instill hope and faith (even if we have never met them in person)?

Trust and credibility are interconnected when you are charting your own path, and I believe an inspiring leader is often someone…