In this enriching episode of Beyond Barriers, Monica Marquez sits down with Julissa McWashington, a Senior Manager at Starbucks and a champion for community resilience.  Julissa’s journey from Honduras to the U.S. and her rise within Starbucks exemplifies the power of the bicultural advantage. She candidly shares how she has navigated the complexities of dual identities, maintaining her Honduran heritage while thriving in the American corporate landscape. Julissa’s passion for community,...

In this powerful episode of Beyond Barriers, host Brooke Skinner Ricketts delves into the incredible story of Travis Hunter, the Office Managing Partner at KPMG in Chicago. Travis opens up about his journey from growing up as a military child—moving over 20 times before the 9th grade—to becoming a leader in corporate America. Despite facing numerous obstacles, Travis credits his success to his unwavering perseverance and the support of key mentors who believed in his potential. You’ll hear...

Join host Brooke Skinner Ricketts in a compelling conversation with Laura Desmond, CEO of Smartly and a powerhouse in the world of advertising and media. Laura has built her career on a foundation of bold leadership and transformative thinking, taking on roles that have shaped the future of global brands like Samsung, Coca-Cola, and Spotify. In this episode, Laura delves into the three key bets that have defined her leadership journey: betting on yourself, betting on your team, and betting...

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, host Brooke Skinner Ricketts engages in an insightful conversation with Gavriella Schuster, a trailblazer in the tech industry with over 25 years at Microsoft and a passionate advocate for lifelong learning and leadership. Gavriella is a seasoned strategic business leader known for transforming companies and driving impactful change. A fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, she is a founding sponsor of WIC and the WIT Network and serves on...

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, host Brooke Skinner Ricketts engages in a powerful conversation with Heather Aranyi, a globally recognized educator and innovator. Heather is The Department of State's U.S. Speaker in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Director of the ICON NIL Incubator at Northwestern University and Founder and CEO of Aranyi Enterprises. With a diverse background that spans opera, child development, and entrepreneurship, Heather brings a unique perspective to redefining...

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, we join host Brooke Skinner Ricketts as she dives into a transformative conversation with Christine Sandman Stone, CEO and Founder of Deliver At Scale, a global tech leader known for her modern management expertise and her relentless focus on driving results. Christine shares her unique perspective on how joy can be a powerful data indicator in both personal and professional growth. Discover how she has harnessed this insight to lead teams through crisis,...

Get ready to be inspired by Jenna Lange’s incredible story of personal transformation and professional excellence. In this episode, Jenna, the founder and CEO of Lange International, shares her secrets to mastering high-stakes communication. You’ll learn how to harness the power of your authentic selves, build resilience, and communicate with confidence when it matters most. Jenna’s journey from a timid figure skater to a sought-after advisor for executives worldwide will leave you with...

In this episode of the Beyond Barriers podcast, host Brooke Skinner Ricketts delves into a thought-provoking conversation with Mike Gamson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Permanent Capital Ventures. Discover how Mike's extensive career, from scaling LinkedIn's global operations to leading AI and biotech companies, has shaped his unique perspective on leadership and human connections in a hybrid work world.  Mike shares personal stories, including transformative experiences at Burning Man...

Tune in to Beyond Barriers for an enlightening conversation with Daina Middleton, a dynamic leader with a wealth of experience in global expansion and nurturing company culture. Daina opens up about her unique path to success, from riding horses in the vast landscapes of Oregon to spearheading innovative marketing strategies at Hewlett-Packard and Twitter.  You will hear how Daina's dedication to hard work and continuous learning has driven her career forward. She also shares practical tips...

https://www.gobeyondbarriers.com/podcast/Raudline-EtienneThis week on Beyond Barriers, Brooke Skinner Ricketts interviews Raudline Etienne, Founder and CEO of Daraja Capital, in an episode brimming with insights on leadership and personal growth. Raudline shares her captivating story, from her childhood in Brooklyn to her ascent in the investment world.  She discusses the critical moments that defined her career, the importance of self-awareness, and her mission to support diverse fund...

In this episode, host Brooke Skinner Ricketts reconnects with her longtime friend and trailblazing marketing and branding expert, Henrietta Pepper. Tune in for a dynamic and inspiring conversation as Henrietta shares her remarkable journey from her education and early career in advertising to leading her own brand communications firm for 14 years and eventually founding GCJ Consultants, where she serves as Chief Strategist. Discover how Henrietta, a true pioneer in the industry, navigated...

In this empowering episode of the Beyond Barriers podcast, host Monica Marquez introduces us to Millie Guzman, a dynamic executive at Morgan Stanley and a steadfast champion for the Latino community.  Born and raised in a lively Puerto Rican family in the Bronx, Millie narrates her remarkable rise from the family's youngest child to a formidable leader in global finance. Her journey from an entry-level assistant to a top compliance officer encapsulates the challenges and triumphs of...

In this episode, Brooke Skinner Ricketts sits down with Ellen Havdala to explore her fascinating career journey and the profound lessons she’s learned along the way. Ellen, a Managing Director at Equity Group Investments, shares how she transitioned from a successful finance career to pursuing a divinity degree, and how these experiences have enriched her professional and personal life.   Discover the strategies Ellen employs to balance her ambitious career goals with her spiritual calling,...

Celebrate 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...

Tune in to this week’s episode as host Brooke Skinner Ricketts sits down with her friend and colleague, Marita Hudson Thomas, Chief Communications Officer at Cars.com Inc., d/b/a Cars Commerce. Marita is responsible for the internal and external communications strategy and events across Cars Commerce. Since her promotion, she has transformed their communications practices by delivering meaningful campaigns, press initiatives, and events that drive measurable results and business impact. ...

Tune in to an uplifting conversation with Marcy Moneypenny, Principal and Managing Director at Avison Young, as she shares her remarkable journey from a single mother to a prominent leader in the male-dominated commercial real estate industry. Host Nikki Barua delves into Marcy's early struggles, her rise in the commercial real estate sector, and the core values that have driven her success. She discusses the importance of turning pain into purpose, the power of self-belief, and the crucial...

Join us for a compelling episode as host Brook Skinner Ricketts delves into Erin Gallagher’s transformative journey from a marketing maven to a champion of women's empowerment and leadership. In this inspiring discussion, Erin reveals the critical moments at the age of 40 that catapulted her from behind-the-scenes roles to a leading voice in advocacy, establishing influential platforms such as Ella and The Hype Women Movement. These initiatives not only disrupt the status quo by providing...

In today’s episode, the focus is on uncovering the human-centric revolution happening within the private equity sector, challenging the norm of focusing solely on financial transactions.  Hosted by Nikki Barua, the episode features Caroline Kung, a visionary leader and the founder of SagePath Capital. Caroline shares her journey from a first-generation immigrant with humble beginnings to becoming a transformative figure in private equity, executing three billion dollars in transactions while...

In this episode, you'll dive into the power of recognizing and leveraging your unique mix of skills and experiences with host Brooke Skinner Ricketts and guest Heidi Anderson Hupe, CEO of The Nora Collective. Heidi reveals her philosophy on the importance of 'leaning in' during moments of uncertainty and doubt in your career. She shares the pivotal moments that led her to embrace her true self, underscoring the transformative impact of authenticity on her career trajectory. Together, you'll...

Welcome to a journey of leadership, personal growth, and impactful change. Brooke Skinner Ricketts hosts an inspiring conversation with Melissa Healy, who shares her journey from creative director to SVP at Leo Burnett, focusing on Employee Belonging and Participation. Melissa opens up about her evolution from early creative ambitions, through the trials of motherhood, to advocating for her disabled daughter. She illustrates how her unique, nonlinear path led to a fulfilling role that...

On this episode of the Beyond Barriers Podcast, our host Brooke Skinner Ricketts welcomes Corey Jones, a visionary who has journeyed from engineering to the forefront of executive leadership as Co-Founder and CEO of PrismWork.  Today we dive into a much needed conversation about re-thinking how we interact with each other at the workplace. Corey’s story is not just about career transition but about revolutionizing leadership in an era where change is the only constant. With a focus on the...

Get ready for an exhilarating dive into the world of vocal empowerment in today's episode! Join host Monica Marquez and her dynamic guests, Jessica Doyle Mekkes and Rebecca Simon, as they unravel the secrets to owning and celebrating your unique voice in the professional realm. Jessica and Rebecca, who both champion authenticity at East Carolina University, are here to revolutionize the way you think about vocal identity amidst the pressures of conformity. They offer powerful strategies for...

Brace yourself for an electrifying episode that vividly shows how our daily thoughts profoundly influence who we are. Join our host, Brooke Skinner Ricketts, as she engages with Yasmeen Duncan, Chief People Officer at the world-renowned Magnolia Bakery. Yasmeen's life story is a compelling testament to the transformative power of self-belief and goal-setting, nurtured from a young age by her insightful mother. As she takes us through her exhilarating path as a woman of color in leadership...

In today's episode, join our host Monica Marquez and our esteemed guest, Heather Black, Founder and CEO of Supermums, as we delve into a visionary approach to reshaping careers in the tech industry. Heather shares her compelling story of how a pivotal career shift, driven by personal transformations, led to the creation of Supermums. This forward-thinking organization is committed to empowering women, particularly those re-entering the workforce post-maternity, by opening doors to new...