Description

When was the last time you took a leap of faith in your career? What benefits did you reap out of that jump?

There are moments in our lives when our inner voice is asking us to make a change in our careers. At the same time, fear will cross our road, preventing us to take on opportunities that could guide us on the path to success. To challenge that fear, one needs to have faith in themselves, in their abilities acquired up to that point, and just rise to the occasion.

Making leaps of faith for your career is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself – and my guest today, Mary Willner, is the perfect example of how having the courage to step out of your comfort zone and take risks pays great results in the end. She shares the lessons she’s learned over the years on how to be a leader, how to build relationships and trust and she also advocates for the importance of not selling ourselves short, even though our inner critique can be powerful sometimes.

Mary is currently enjoying her life as a retired tech executive, and prior to this, she has had an amazing career of more than 35 years as a Vice President with Top Fortune 50 companies, including IBM and Intel. She believes that, in order to succeed, you have to get a seat at the table and let your voice be heard – and how else can you do that, if not by going all in, no matter the obstacles?

I encourage you to take a small leap of faith right now, and listen to Episode 13 of Roar because I guarantee you it will be worth it! You will learn that regardless of how things turn out, you will get to the other end of the experience stronger, wiser, and more successful because of your willingness to try. 

Some questions I ask:

• Tell us a little bit about your background – where are you from? And who were some of your biggest influences growing up? (05:01)
• What stands out for you as a defining moment that helped you find your roar? (08:36)
• How have you helped other leaders take those leaps of faith? (14:01)
• How do you navigate the feeling of failure and really find the way to get up one more time and take that next leap? (18:58)
• What did you discover about yourself when you took the leaps? What were some of the things that still stick with you today about how to have faith versus fear? (26:21)
• What does it really mean, as a leader, to be ready to jump? (28:40)

In this episode, you will learn:

• The importance of nurturing your relationships with your clients, customers, and suppliers. (06:41)
• One of Mary’s biggest realizations when it comes to happiness at work and at home. (10:58)
• Taking big leaps require having supportive people around you. (12:28)
• When to apply to a job & What most senior managers are looking for in a candidate. (16:40)
• The importance of making your homework and provide yourself with a parachute before you jump. (20:35)
• Why looking for someone to replace you when you decide to leave is the right thing to do both for you and the company you’re working for. (21:49)
• One example of how small leaps of faith lead to a more significant one. (23:29)

Connect with Mary:

• LinkedIn

Resources mentioned:

• Book: Bell Hooks – Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism

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