In this episode, we feature LanTing Garra, Senior Director of Innovation and Design at Motorola Solutions and an LWE Fellow from Fall 2016. LanTing discusses her career evolution from Industrial Design to AI-supported end-to-end customer experience design. She shares the challenges she faced and overcame while leading a critical project for the company’s iconic public safety product line. LanTing also talks about influencing change within the company, integrating AI, building a supportive network of colleagues, and ensuring younger team members gain visibility with senior management.

This episode features a conversation between Lori Nishiura Mackenzie, co-founder of the Stanford VMware Women's Leadership Innovation Lab and faculty member of Leading Women Executives; and Deb DeHaas, CEO, Corporate Leadership Center. Lori and Deb talk about Stanford’s recent research and playbooks around board diversity and culture, along with Deb’s real-life experience and advice across her many years of serving on corporate, nonprofit, and higher education boards.

SHOW NOTES:

4:27 The Impact Lab

6:07 Inclusive seats of power

8:24 The importance of focusing on building an inclusive board culture

10:07 Playbooks for Board diversity and culture

16:00 Setting norms with Boards

22:10 Building interpersonal relationships on boards

21:52 Engaging with and across differences

29:48 Defining board culture and looking forward

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

We encourage you to connect with your peer board, team or colleagues to discuss the podcast. Please use the following questions to guide your conversation:

1. What ideas from this discussion can you take back to any Boards you are involved with that could help create a more inclusive Board culture?

2. What other ideas have you seen that work to create cultures of inclusion on Boards?

3. As you think about these playbooks, what might you take from them to also incorporate a stronger culture of inclusion in your teams?

This episode features Robin Blackmon, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at Aflac. Robin shares her wonderful, winding journey in Finance and HR that led her to where she is today. You’ll also hear insights on learning from others in big and small ways, the importance of relationships and practice when it comes to boards, and a few tips on wellness and stress management.

SHOW NOTES:

2:41 The goal was not necessarily to end up here

6:11 The value of gaining HR experience to succeed in Finance

10:20 Thoughtful transitions for leadership

11:56 Tips on presenting to the Board

12:42 Having good working relationships with your business partners

16:02 Building out the team and working towards optimization

17:39 Taking care of your own health and wellness

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

We encourage you to connect with your peer board, team or colleagues to discuss the podcast. Please use the following questions to guide your conversation:

1. How might you be able to start developing or further cultivate relationships with your Board members?

2. What are some of the things your peers or team members do in their work that you admire and could incorporate into your own work or style?

3. How might you be able to strengthen relationships with business partners that are important to you and to your team?

4. What are ways that you can pay more attention to your health and wellness and to that of your team members?