1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

I have built teams from the ground up many times and the forming and norming phases are always challenging. Giving the team a common goal and direction and getting them to start rowing in the same direction can be a lot of fun but also one of the most challenging times for a leader.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I started as an individual contributor (programmer) in IT and began my leadership journey when I moved on to product/project management. Other aspects of leadership began to accumulate as I spent time at Metlife developing product strartegies and leading complex global initiatives.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

The first hour is for my family. I spend a few minutes waking up my children, then we have breakfast together and once everyone is out the door I start checking my email. After that it is a series of calls/meetings/emails until it is time to pick up my children from school. I disconnect from work entirely after that. we eat dinner together, drive to activities as family whenever possible watch TV together. If there is a deadline at work I login for a couple of hours once everyone else is asleep.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Kindness and humility are essential, whatever your position in the company may be.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Trust and Inspire by Stephen Covey. This book taught me a lot about leading by example. I truly understood how a true leader isn't one who tells others what to do, but shows them how to do it and then works alongside to finish the task.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Be kind to yourself and to your team, and to the people outside the team you are building a relationship with. Kindness goes a long way, longer than any other skill or quality you may have.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

A gentleman in one of our offshore teams had a difficult time with written communication due to language barriers. He was one of our strongest employees in terms of skill set. I paired him with another team member who would help him and coach him in communication skills. Eventually, he went on to earn a certification in technical writing and the entire team threw him an enormous celebration! We didn't give up on him because he couldnt articulate his thoughts, and I am so glad!