What Rules!?: A career podcast for women of color

Hosts Alisa Manjarrez and Dr. Merary Simeon get real about the current landscape for women in the insights industry during this live recording at IIEX North America, one of the largest insights conferences in the world.Alisa and Dr. Merary highlight the crucial role of advancing multicultural women in the insights field and its positive impact on businesses. They also share three actionable strategies for industry professionals to support and promote women of color into leadership roles.Discover valuable tips to make a difference in your organization, whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or already in the C-suite.Episode Highlights:Where women stand in the insights industryThe benefits of having more multicultural women in leadership Advancing through sponsorship, mentoring and coachingThe #1 thing women need to advance their careersAlisa’s Bio:Alisa Manjarrez is a storyteller, marketer and executive coach. She is the Managing Director of a B2B creative agency, co-host of the What Rules!? podcast, and has her Master's in Organizational Management & Leadership. Alisa is Mexican American and is passionate about advancing women of color in corporate America as co-CEO of Zera Consulting.Dr. Merary’s Bio:  Dr. Merary Simeon, a seasoned Human Resources executive, brings 25 years of experience as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives in Fortune 50 corporations. Dr. Merary has a doctorate in Strategic Leadership. She is a best-selling author and co-host of the What Rules!? podcast. As co-CEO of Zera Consulting, she passionately advocates for the advancement of multicultural women in the workplace. Dr. Merary is from Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish.Connect with us on our social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.

One of our core themes is Create What You Want to See. This is nothing new for Krystal Solorzano, Principal of Business Development at 10SB, a global architectural firm. Krystal has been charting her own career course since her 20s, from moving solo to South America to embarking on a new adventure in Singapore with her husband.This fearless Latina shares her insights on why working abroad can be a game-changer and what you need to know before making the move.“I like to think of myself as a creator,” says Krystal. “I create connections and I create opportunities.”We also chat about creating community wherever you go, the impact of in-person meetings and the advantage of being the only woman in the room.  Theme: Create What You Want to SeeEpisode Highlights:Creating community at different stages of your lifeMoving abroad to advance your careerThe impact of meeting in person vs virtualHow being the only woman in the room can be a superpowerConnect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.

We’re celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with Denise Vu Broady, a Vietnamese refugee who has climbed the corporate ladder into the C-suite and is now a mentor to other women in the tech industry.Denise shares her inspirational story of how she blossomed from an introverted young girl to the outspoken powerhouse she is today as the Chief Marketing Officer at Collibra, a software development company.We chat about owning your voice in the workplace, learning from failure and how to find the right mentor—and cultivate the relationship. “Have a voice, be yourself and think about what you want and ask for it,” says Denise. “You cannot get to professional success without breaking some rules.” Theme: Own Your PowerEpisode Highlights:Working with different culturesLearning from failureBreaking the rule of being a quiet Asian immigrantAsking for what you wantCultivating relationships with mentors and sponsorsHow to find the right mentorThere’s no such thing as being perfectCareers are marathons, not sprintsEarly career advice Mentioned in this Episode:Refugee Girl: They called us “The Boat People” by Hang Pham SonnenbergDenise’s Bio: Denise Vu Broady is the Chief Marketing Officer for Collibra and is responsible for accelerating the company’s marketing strategy, brand recognition, and growth marketing across the globe. Denise has 25+ years of enterprise technology experience and has held leadership roles at Appian, WorkForce Software, and SAP, with experience in go-to market, product launches, strategy, marketing, communications, and operations. Denise holds a double bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Production & Operations from Virginia Tech.Connect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.

If you’re comparing yourself to others, wondering if you should be further along in your career, our guest today shares how to get ahead at your own speed. While we’re encouraged to advance as quickly as possible, Paula Ramos, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, at Kimberly-Clark, believes in the opposite. Paula tells us how she has broken the rules by looking at her career as a sailboat and letting her curiosity guide her.“A sailboat allows me to explore,” says Paula. “And it puts the control on me on how fast I go.” Get off the fast lane and sail your way into a rewarding career with Paula’s insight and advice.Theme: Know What You WantEpisode Highlights:Looking at your career as a sailboat vs speedboatDetermining how fast you want to go in your careerHow to find variety within your role and companyForging your own path at every stage of your careerThe trap of comparing yourself to othersAre you a knower or a learner?Mentoring, sponsoring and being an example to othersPaula’s Bio: Paula Ramos is the Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer for Kimberly-Clark Corporation, where she has global responsibility for the company's enterprise strategy and the transformation initiatives designed to accelerate growth and value creation. Paula’s ambition is to fuse commercial instinct, pragmatism, technology and market insight to navigate ambiguity, champion consumer experience, and enable sustainable growth. With empathy, collaboration, and a passion for unlocking human potential, she builds inclusive teams that play to win and leave their mark upon the world.Prior to joining Kimberly-Clark in 2021, Paula was a partner at McKinsey & Company. In her 18 years at McKinsey, she advised some of the world's largest consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, and pharmaceutical companies on finding new sources of growth, transforming business portfolios, driving commercial and culture transformations, and building lasting competitive advantages. She led the firm's global consumer health practice and played pivotal roles in McKinsey's inclusion and diversity programs.A native Brazilian, Paula holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Magna Cum Laude high honors degree in Commerce from McGill University. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.Connect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.

For Women’s History Month, we debunk three myths many multicultural women have about supporting each other in corporate America. Do you think you’re only one person and can’t change the status quo? Are you afraid to sponsor another woman of color because she may make you look bad? Do you believe everyone should pay their dues as they climb the ladder?These are all myths! Check out how we disprove each and offer ways to help and support each other when we choose community over competition. Episode Highlights:The impact one person make can on another woman’s career and lifeWhat to remember when you have the chance to help someoneEasy ways to support another woman of color NOWWhat your role is (and isn’t) as a sponsor What it means to refer someone The benefits of sponsoring each otherWhy paying our dues hurts all of usMentioned in this Episode:The P.I.E. Theory of Success—Performance, Image, Exposure2023 Women in the Workplace by McKinsey & CompanyConnect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.

It’s Black History Month and Meredith Harper is on a mission—to empower women and people of color to embark upon careers in tech. Black, Latina and Native American women make up only 4% of tech roles in the U.S.Meredith is the Chief Information Security Officer at Synchrony, a Fortune 500 company that is one of the largest issuers of store credit cards in the U.S. She shares how she has often been the only woman of color throughout her 30-year career in tech and how other strong women partnered with her to get ahead.Tune in for an inspiring conversation with Meredith on how to challenge authority at work so that it benefits you and your company. “It's about being bold and it’s about being noisy,” she says.Theme: Don’t Do It AloneEpisode Highlights:What your LinkedIn banner says about youChase after experiences, not rolesIt’s ok to be different Challenging authority at workPushing back benefits everyoneBe bold and noisy to create changeResources to grow your career in tech and other industriesWork integration with your personal lifeInfuse levity into whatever you’re doingMentioned in this Episode:Empowering Black, Latina, and Native American Women in Tech by McKinsey & Company, 8/29/23ISACA, a global association for professionals in information security, governance, assurance, risk, and privacy and quality. ISC2, the world’s leading member association for cybersecurity professionalsSANS, an institute that offers cybersecurity training, certifications and researchMeredith’s Bio: Meredith Harper is a strategic leader with 30 years of experience, who is passionate about her greatest assets—her team members. Her success has been attributed to her ability to manage large-scale complex programs that cross functional areas while advancing the skill sets and careers of her team members.Meredith is passionate about empowering women and people of color to embark upon careers in technology, especially in information security, where those populations are underrepresented. She’s committed to transforming the industry by driving engaging and provocative discussions around diversity, equity, inclusion and empowerment and the value it brings. It is her hope that the industry transforms at a more rapid pace so that women and people of color are normalized in tech and security spaces. Meredith is a proud alumna of the University of Detroit Mercy and the Loyola Chicago School of Law where she received a Master’s in Health Services Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, and Master's of Jurisprudence in Compliance, respectively.Connect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and

Let’s advance together in 2024! Today, we chat about lifting others to get ahead collectively with Cindy Tran, Managing Director at Slalom, a global business and technology consulting company.As an Asian American, Cindy talks about how she was raised to be empathetic with everyone and how it’s helped her advance in her career. “That general commitment to adding value and helping others succeed,” says Cindy. “It makes other people want to help you.”Tune in for how empathy can take you (and others!) far in the workplace. “It’s much more powerful to have others lift you up than for you to get there by yourself,” says Cindy.Theme: Don’t Do It AloneEpisode Highlights:Cindy’s TEDx TalkBreaking through cultural barriers at workLearning from white male mentorsRecognizing ego vs humblenessLifting others to get ahead togetherHow empathy impacts companiesLack of empathy between womenFinding people who support youHaving a multicultural woman as a leaderResonating with others while on your journeyHelping others makes people want to help youCindy’s Bio: Cindy Tran is a Managing Director at Slalom, a purpose-led, global business and technology consulting company. She has over 20 years of experience in professional services, currently focused on Slalom go-to-market expansion into Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Cindy has a strong commitment to serving customers and enabling teams to achieve strategic outcomes. Cindy is passionate about mentoring early career young professionals and community give-back opportunities.  Together, Cindy and her husband are raising two young boys and are small business owners.Mentioned in this episode:Cindy Tran’s TEDx Talk: Untold Complexities Between 1st and 2nd Generation ImmigrantsConnect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.

Are you thinking about leaving corporate America? You’re not alone. 1 in 3 women of color currently in the workplace plan to leave their jobs over the next year. We’re here to tell you why multicultural women are needed in corporate America and what it means if more of us decide to leave.Before you choose the path of entrepreneurship or the corporate world, check out our convo!Episode Highlights:Women of color are leaving corporate AmericaWhy it’s important for multicultural women to stay in corporate AmericaWanting something different Opting out of your powerChoosing your own pathNeeding both entrepreneurs and corporate womenFitting into corporate culture if there were more women of colorTaking care of yourself Outsmarting the game  Research Mentioned:2/15/23: The Harris Poll: America This Week Wave 155March 2021: More Women of Color are Ready to Leave the Workforce by Fairygodboss and nFormationMay 2020: Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters by McKinsey & Company6/24/20: Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter (Quick Take) by Catalyst2022 Women in the Workplace by McKinsey & CompanyCheck out these additional episodes:Ep 64: The 4 L’s to Advance Your Career featuring Tanika CabralEp 71: Transform Your Limiting Beliefs to Get Ahead featuring Thear SuzukiEp 73: 3 Moves to Improve Your Next Meeting featuring Monique LanauxConnect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our...

Are you looking for a mentor? We’ve got a surefire way to get as many mentors as you want, thanks to Shellye Archambeau, a Fortune 500 board director and one of the first Black female CEOs in the tech industry.Shellye learned early in her career that you should have multiple mentors and she figured out how to do that—without asking! And it’s easier than you think!Suffering from impostor syndrome? Don’t worry, Shellye points out it affects all of us, including herself, and she offers ways to beat it when it sneaks up on you. Striving to land a paid seat on a corporate board? Shellye shares how she did it and how you can, too! Want people to remember you? Introduce yourself using Shellye’s technique and you’ll be on people’s minds long after you meet them.With over 30 years of corporate experience, Shellye, author of Unapologetically Ambitious, shares some golden nuggets you won’t want to miss! Theme: Don’t Do It AloneEpisode Highlights:Mixing business and pleasureAchieving work-life integrationHow to get a mentor without askingGet paid to serve on a boardHow to set goals and stay on trackHow to beat impostor syndrome3 ways leaders can advance multicultural women in the workplaceIntroduce yourself so people remember youMentioned in this Episode:Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms by Shellye ArchambeauLinkedIn Learning Course: Unapologetically Ambitious by Shellye Archambeau2023 Gender Diversity Index Report by 50/50 Women on BoardsShellye’s Bio: Shellye Archambeau is an experienced CEO and Board Director with a track record of accomplishments building brands, high performance teams, and organizations. Currently, Shellye serves on the boards of Verizon, Roper Technologies, and Okta. She is also a CEO mentor with the EXCO Group and serves on the board of two national nonprofits, Catalyst and Braven. Shellye has over 30 years of experience in technology. She is the former CEO of MetricStream, a Silicon Valley-based, governance, risk, and compliance software company. During her tenure MetricStream grew from a fledgling startup into a global market leader. Shellye is the author of Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers and Create Success on Your Own Terms. A book that will inspire you and provide the tools to enable you to fight the battles, make the tradeoffs and create the life you want. Shellye enjoys the performing arts, traveling and cooking. Connect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and

We chat with Brianna Hinojosa-Smith, Chief Legal Officer of Digital & Technology for Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company.Brianna was doing just fine as a senior patent attorney at Microsoft before Yum! Brands came calling (during the pandemic!) with an opportunity to switch to the restaurant industry, a new field for her. “Here I was looking to do something completely different, in an industry that I knew nothing about,” says Brianna. “I have four to five people that I really respect their input and they all gave me great advice.”Brianna shares how she decided to accept the new challenge and who she turns to for career advice. Is it time for you to take on a new challenge? We discuss the signs it’s likely time to change course, who you should talk to about it, and some revealing questions to ask yourself when making big decisions. We also cover how to decide if the timing is right to take on a new challenge and working in your zone of excellence vs zone of genius.Theme: Change Course Without HesitationEpisode Highlights:Changing course with your careerBeing curiousHaving a growth mindsetAre you doing your job with your eyes closed?Questions to ask yourself when considering a big career moveWorking in your zone of excellence vs zone of geniusIs it the right time for a new challenge?Who to talk to when making big decisionsSaying no to an opportunity when the timing isn’t rightHow leaders can advance multicultural talent and build diverse teamsMentioned in this episode:The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay HendricksBrianna’s Bio:Briana Hinojosa-Smith joined Yum! Brands in August of 2020 and currently serves as their Chief Legal Officer, Digital & Technology. In her role at Yum!, Brianna oversees a broad range of commercial and technology-related legal matters, including commercial contracts and licenses, data rights and intellectual property protection, as well as funding strategies to commercialize data and technology. Additionally, Brianna manages Yum!’s global patent portfolio, including coordinating the evaluation and filing of patents across the four brands (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, Habit Burger Grill) and Yum!.Prior to joining Yum!, Brianna was a Senior Patent Attorney at Microsoft where she supported the Devices business (including Xbox/Gaming and Surface) in the areas of patent prosecution, conflict matters and licensing, as well as general legal support for the Devices client.In her 20-plus years as a patent attorney, Brianna’s experience includes patent prosecution, acquisition due diligence, patent licensing and litigation, patent monetization, validity and infringement analysis, and trademark and copyright protection. Prior to joining Yum!, Brianna worked in both the private and public sector including Gardere & Wynne, BlackBerry, Nortel and Uniden.Brianna earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Trinity University in San Antonio, a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington. When Brianna is not working, she enjoys serving her community as an elected official, spending time with her family, running and writing.Connect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez:

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. That's the motto that's taken Wendy Wu far—from Microsoft to Google, and now to software developer SailPoint, where she is the Chief Marketing Officer.Wendy believes that “you have to be the owner of your own career,” and that means defining what you want outside of your current role. She tells us about the time she did just that at Microsoft when her position was eliminated and she had to create a new position for herself.“Oftentimes a job description just tells you the status quo for today,” says Wendy, who grew up in China. “It doesn’t tell you what’s going to be next for you, so always extend yourself into other areas that may set you up for longer-term success.” We chat about three keys to defining your career and Wendy encourages us to seek help along the way!Theme: Know What You WantEpisode Highlights:Work life blend vs work life balanceAlways give your best effort at work and lifeGo beyond the job descriptionCreate your own opportunitiesTalk to others about their jobsTry out a role and pivoting as necessaryBe aware of how you feel Volunteer to develop new skillsAsk for help along the wayWendy's Bio:Wendy Wu brings over 20 years of experience in B2B enterprise marketing to her role at SailPoint as the company’s Chief Marketing Officer. At SailPoint, she’s focused on accelerating the company’s growth through modern, digital marketing, elevating SailPoint’s brand recognition, driving product adoption, and helping to deliver against the company’s business goals worldwide.Prior to joining SailPoint, Wendy was Vice President of Marketing at Box, where she led the global demand generation team to fuel the growth of the business as a leading content cloud platform. Before Box, Wendy spent eight years at Google Cloud. While there, she built the demand generation team for the Google Cloud Platform, eventually scaling the global marketing programs to support a multi-billion-dollar business. Before Google, Wendy held various product marketing and marketing leadership roles at Microsoft and other global companies.Wendy received her bachelor’s degree in English from Fudan University and her master’s degrees in Public Policy and Cultural Anthropology from Duke University.Connect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.

The #1 question we get from women of color is, how do I find a mentor and sponsor? In Part 3 of our Own Your Power Series, we reveal why you need both. “If you’re not sure what you want to do, go to a mentor,” says co-host Alisa Manjarrez. “As soon as you know, go to a sponsor.” We tell you how to find a mentor who you can trust and is a good fit for you. We also fill you in on how a sponsor can help you get ahead and the best way to approach a possible candidate. Theme: Own Your PowerEpisode Highlights:What is a mentor How to find the right mentor for youHow to approach a possible mentorHow many mentors you should haveWhat is a sponsorHow a sponsor can help you advance in your careerHow to find the right sponsor for youHow to approach a possible sponsorMentioned in this Episode: Expect to Win by Carla HarrisConnect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.

In Part 2 of our Own Your Power Series, we share how you can leverage your strengths to get ahead in your career. Discovering and growing your strengths is worth it. Research says people who have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs.We offer tools that will help you identify your strengths and build on them. “We all have areas that we consistently stand out in,” says co-host Dr. Merary Simeon. “Once we understand what they are, those are our strength zones.”Theme: Own Your PowerEpisode Highlights:Focusing on your strengths instead of your weaknessesBuilding your strengths over timeTools to identify your strengths—CliftonStrengths Assessment, HIGH5 Strengths TestHow managers can build on the talent of multicultural womenHow others perceive your strengthsGetting help to grow your strengthsMentioned in this Episode: CliftonStrengths AssessmentHIGH5 Strengths TestStrengthsFinder 2.0 by GallupStrengths Based Leadership by GallupMore episodes about using your strengths:Ep 70: Making Big Bold Moves Even When You’re FearfulConnect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.

Welcome to the Own Your Power Series! In three short episodes, we’ll help you advance your career as a woman of color. AND we provide leaders with surefire ways to advance the multicultural women at their organizations.In this episode, we show you the first step to owning your power: how to own your identity. Why is this important? “Your identity shapes how you experience and see the world,” says co-host Dr. Merary Simeon in Part 1 of our series.We provide you with tools, such as the Identity Circle, to think about all the factors that make up your identity. And we share how owning your identity can open doors for yourself and others.“Ultimately, understanding and embracing your identity will put you in control of how you respond to opportunities and challenges that you face as a multicultural woman,” says Dr. Merary.Theme: Own Your PowerEpisode Highlights:Why owning your identity is importantWhat makes up your identity Consequences of covering parts of your identityBuilding a support systemThe Identity Circle, a tool to own your identityOpening doors for yourself and othersHow leaders can advance multicultural womenMentioned in this Episode: Ep 9: Thelma Haylock, Change Leader on Embracing Her StoryIdentity CircleMore episodes about owning your identity:Ep 80: Creating Your Own Career PathEp 78: Leading with VulnerabilityEp 71: Transform Your Limiting Beliefs to Get AheadEp 68: How to Be Strategic with Your Next Career MoveEp 64: Dr. Carey Yazeed: Truth Teller, Fire StarterEp 60: How Understanding Your Identity Opens the Doors to SuccessEp 58: Focused on Her FaithEp 47: When In Doubt, Figure It OutEp 46: Learning to Win as an OutsiderEp 43: Turning Your Insecurities into Your SuperpowersEp 19: a...

Shiseido exec Agnes Landau has an accent and speaks with her hands—two things she tried to tone down at the start of her career. Not anymore! Today, Agnes is the Chief Marketing Officer at Shiseido U.S. and she credits her differences for standing out and getting ahead in the workplace. “Because I have an accent, people listen more closely,” says Agnes, who’s Puerto Rican. We chat about being open to new opportunities, like the five years Agnes worked in France without knowing French! Being able to “figure it out along the way,” she says, is key.  Theme: Don’t Do It AloneEpisode Highlights: • The power of mentors and sponsors• Creating your own opportunities• Working internationally• Embracing your differences• Standing out to advance your career• Focusing on your strengthsRegister Now!The What Rules!? Leadership Conference is on 10/25/23. Learn more and register at Eventbrite.Connect with us on social media: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Alisa Manjarrez: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Courtney Copelin: Instagram and LinkedInMore from Dr. Merary Simeon: Instagram and LinkedInSign up for our newsletter at www.whatrulespodcast.com.