This blog was inspired by a recent conversation with my friend and colleague Geeta Jain of MentorW as a part of their Journey UPHill: Looking Back & Beyond conversation series with women leaders from around the world.
I’ve always been a curious person who wanted to learn and do more. When I was taking the first steps of my career, I was lucky enough to be taken in by advocates and mentors who fueled my curiosity and brought me into meetings, conversations, and experiences I otherwise would not have been a part of. That curiosity allowed me to thrive in new and different environments and became a key part of my personal brand. In my 30+ years of leadership, I never stopped learning and wondering about what makes a high-performing team and exploring ways we could all do better. I wasn’t afraid to make changes and try new things in pursuit of the strongest and most impactful leaders and teams. When it was time for me to move to another opportunity, I was confident that I had developed excellent teams and leaders that would continue to thrive on their own. Eventually, I’d find myself wanting to give back in a different way, leading me to my current portfolio career as an advisor and non-executive director.
I’ve learned a lot about what makes a successful leader over the years, but there are a few key lessons that have kept me grounded. I’m sharing them here in hopes they’ll do the same for you!
Find balance.
Building a career should not feel like a battle between your personal and professional life. I’ve learned that you can’t be an impactful leader if you don’t show up as your whole self. An effective leader knows what’s best for their personal journey and is not afraid to make changes as needed.
Embrace your journey.
Your journey is unique to you. Sometimes growth means taking a demotion or switching directions. Often, I think young leaders feel like they have something to prove, that their next step always needs to be up. However, I believe that sometimes the best learnings happen across (or laterally). This shows versatility, agility, and a willingness to be uncomfortable and learn something new.  
Know your audience.
There were many times in my career when I was the only woman in the room. That often resulted in me overpreparing and feeling like I needed to be the boldest and loudest to ensure my voice was heard. Through executive coaching, mentorship, and lots of trial and error, I learned that sometimes you need to use your voice in a different way, and the key to that is knowing your audience. Take the time to consider how your message will be heard by the people in the room, not just from a professional mindset, but also culturally and demographically.
And listen first. Listening is one of the most critical skills of every successful leader. Being truly present and listening carefully shows deep respect for everyone in the room and all voices.
Trust yourself.
I remember questioning if I was the right leader for each chapter of my career. It’s easy to doubt yourself when faced with something different and new. But I’ve learned you must be willing to take the risk, especially when it’s uncomfortable. To say yes, even if you’re not exactly sure where you’re going. Trust that you’re the right person for the job, and others will too.