Episode 315: From Closets to Corner Offices: Empowering Queer Professionals
Release Date: 06/21/2024
BEYOND BARRIERS
In this episode of Beyond Barriers, you’ll hear a transformative conversation about balancing career ambition with the responsibilities of motherhood. Mel Goodman, a former corporate leader turned entrepreneur, shares her candid journey of navigating the challenges of building a career while raising two young daughters. Mel recounts how she reached her breaking point, burned out, and then rebuilt her life by embracing the idea of becoming the CEO of her own life. You’ll learn about her powerful inside-out approach to redefining success, grounded in clarity, alignment with values, and a...
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In this episode of Beyond Barriers, discover the driving forces behind entrepreneurial success as Hanna Kassis, a seasoned financial innovator and founder, shares his journey of resilience, self-belief, and focus. Hanna takes you through his evolution from a first-generation leader to a trailblazer in private credit markets, having raised over $1.4 billion and launched transformative businesses like OAREX Capital Markets and Babylon Asset Management. Learn how unwavering focus and a disciplined mindset have helped him overcome challenges, navigate risk, and turn vision into reality. Whether...
info_outline Episode 336: From the Mailroom to the Boardroom: A Testament to Hard Work and GritBEYOND BARRIERS
In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Charles Smith, an extraordinary leader, shares his inspiring journey from delivering mail to directing boardrooms. With grit, determination, and an unwavering commitment to equity, Charles recounts his rise from humble beginnings on Chicago’s west side to becoming the CEO and Founder of CS Insurance Strategies, a thriving national insurance brokerage. Charles opens up about his childhood on Chicago’s west side, where he learned the power of community, love, and grit. He reveals how his ability to cultivate relationships, align values, and embrace...
info_outline Episode 335 : The Only Score That Matters: Surpassing Yourself on the Path to SuccessBEYOND BARRIERS
In this episode of Beyond Barriers, we explore a transformative journey with Deborah Kilpatrick, Ph.D., Executive Chair of Evidation Health. From humble beginnings in rural Georgia to breaking ground in Silicon Valley’s health tech landscape, Deborah’s career reflects a powerful philosophy: that true success is about surpassing one’s self. Inspired by her father’s role as a high school football coach, Deborah leads with a coaching mindset, motivating her team to reach their potential. She shares how this approach has fueled her impactful journey and commitment to lifelong growth....
info_outline Episode 334: Navigating the Yellow Brick Road: How Determination Shaped Career SuccessBEYOND BARRIERS
In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Hanan Dakhil, Director of DEI at Canyon Partners, reflects on her non-linear career journey. With over 20 years at the firm, Hanan shares how determination, mentorship, and self-advocacy helped her pivot from a research assistant to a leadership role that was not initially part of the firm's structure when she began. Along the way, she overcame self-doubt, navigated work-life integration as a mother, and embraced just-in-time learning to develop new skills. Hanan also reveals how her background in political science and international relations sparked...
info_outline Episode 333: A Healthy Disregard for the Impossible: Leading with Intuition, Innovation, and ImpactBEYOND BARRIERS
In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Naseem Sayani, Co-Founder and General Partner at Emmeline Ventures, shares her powerful journey from consulting to venture capital, revealing how trusting her instincts has led her to make bold decisions in high-stakes environments. You’ll learn how Naseem’s ability to blend intuition with innovation has helped her identify game-changing founders and direct capital toward marginalized groups in venture capital. Naseem shares insights into how her fund drives industry transformation through investments in women-led businesses across key sectors like...
info_outline Episode 332: Thinking Bigger: A Roadmap to Empowering Women EntrepreneursBEYOND BARRIERS
In this inspiring episode, Sarah Dusek, managing partner at Enygma Ventures and author of Thinking Bigger, shares her life story of scaling businesses with clarity and purpose. From her early days as a non-profit leader to founding the wildly successful Under Canvas, Sarah’s path to the top was defined by her unwavering commitment to what she truly wanted in life. Now, through her venture capital firm, Sarah is empowering women entrepreneurs to think bigger, build scalable ventures, and access the resources they need to succeed. You’ll discover how Sarah transitioned from a small business...
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In this dynamic episode, Monica Marquez sits down with Aldo Quevedo, the Latino creative visionary shaking up the advertising industry. As the CEO and Creative Chairman of BeautifulBeast, Aldo has built an agency dedicated to speaking to Hispanic and multicultural audiences in a way that’s bold, authentic, and culturally vibrant. From his roots in Mexico to becoming a leading figure in U.S. advertising, Aldo opens up about how he’s turned his heritage into a superpower—using it to break stereotypes, build bridges, and tell powerful stories that resonate with audiences across the board....
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In this episode of Beyond Barriers, host Brooke Skinner Ricketts has a compelling conversation with R. Martin “Marty” Chavez, a trailblazer who has bridged the worlds of Wall Street and Silicon Valley. As the former CIO and CFO of Goldman Sachs and now Vice Chairman of Sixth Street, Marty has been at the forefront of transforming finance through technology. He shares his fascinating journey—from his early days in Albuquerque, where he programmed nuclear test simulations, to leading one of the most influential investment banks into the digital age. Marty opens up about the hurdles he...
info_outlineCelebrate Pride Month with Monica Marquez and Brooke Skinner Ricketts in this empowering episode of Beyond Barriers. Monica and Brooke share their compelling stories of coming out and breaking barriers in the corporate world.
From Brooke’s supportive activist mother to Monica’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance, their experiences highlight the importance of authenticity and inclusion.
Learn how they navigate the complexities of being queer professionals, the significance of building safe and equitable workplaces, and the value of fostering genuine curiosity about diverse perspectives.
Tune in for an inspiring discussion on the intersections of identity, leadership, and community.
Visit our website where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with us.