As we continue to transform into one Global Marketing organization at Nuance, it has become obvious to me that the key to our success is to empower each person in the organization. And so, I began to reflect on what creates empowerment. I know empowerment takes time and focus. Empowerment also requires give-and-take from both […]
Last week my husband had shoulder surgery. We are very fortunate that he has a world-class surgeon and that we have good insurance. The operation cost over $55,000; however, our out of pocket was just under $1,000. My husband has been in a lot of pain and ready to get his shoulder repaired. While in […]
I was pleased to read that the Business Roundtable last week redefined the purpose of a corporation. Previously, corporations were defined to exist primarily to serve shareholders. The Business Roundtable’s new statement signed by 181 CEOs, is a commitment to lead their corporations for the benefits of all stakeholders – customers, employees, suppliers, communities, and […]
Last week I traveled to Atlanta to a training facility we often refer to as going to “camp.” Although the accommodations are basic, the work we do there together is always worth the trip. A cross-functional group gathered to share knowledge on some of our competitors and discuss our right to win against those competitors. […]
Most of us were cheering on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team over the last couple of weeks. The July 4th holiday timing of the games seemed to make cheering the U.S. on even more fitting and enjoyable. Winning two consecutive Women’s World Cup titles is just awesome! Fans and new followers have been so […]
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And the wisdom to know the difference.” Reinhold Niebuhr I recently experienced a once-in-a-lifetime family vacation. We planned it months ago and have been looking forward to it ever since. It was our first time in […]
Despite the best of intentions, we all make mistakes. Mistakes make us human. I always am surprised by people or companies that do not own their mistakes, much less attempt to fix them. Recently, my husband and I had some yard work done. The company made a few mistakes; it was an expensive service, so […]
My youngest daughter is graduating from the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill this weekend. I am very proud of the fact that she’s been a great student, graduating as a business major from Kenan-Flager business school, as well as a political science double major. She will graduate as a Buckley Public Service Scholar […]
I recently saw statistics on what contributes to our health and was surprised to see that individual behaviors contributed 40% while genetics were only 30%. I also recently had the pleasure of hearing a keynote from Dr. Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General. Given his vast knowledge and experience, I expected to hear an in-depth […]
Have you ever thought about what makes for a good day at work? Is it if you had a chance to generate new ideas? Is it completing a project? Working with a fabulous team is certainly a part of my everyday joy. I believe the majority of people take pride in their work and want […]
Today is International Women’s Day. The theme for International Women’s Day is #BalanceforBetter because a gender balanced world is a better world. Balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive. According to Fortune magazine, when a minimum of 30% of women are represented at […]
What is your favorite innovation? My husband and my oldest daughter love gadgets. My daughter’s latest love is her Echo. I laughed when I visited her in Los Angeles, and she was excited to show me that she could tell Echo “lights out” at bedtime. I kept thinking she could just turn the lamp off, […]
When you read the title, did you think this blog would be about respecting your elders? When we hear the phrase, “show your respect,” it’s usually in that context. I want to challenge us all to think more broadly about respect, because respect is simply treating people in a way that makes them feel cared […]
There are many scientific studies that show the power of taking a break. Whether it’s a quick break during the day to clear your head, taking a day off on the weekend to relax, or taking a vacation to re-energize, the science shows that breaks provide better focus, clarity, productivity, and even increased happiness. In […]
I was asked this week by an analyst firm, “How do you create value for your customers?” Value is defined in both tangibles and intangibles. The tangibles are dollars, time, and quality. Dollars are measured with cost savings, additional revenue or profit. Improved efficiency is measured in time savings. And quality is typically measured with […]
The first Thanksgiving was a harvest feast celebrated by a diverse group. Puritans who had come to the “New World” seeking religious freedom, and Native Americans who banded with them to protect themselves from other tribes, celebrated the fall harvest together. The Puritans had much to celebrate since they survived the long journey across the […]
In high school, I was nominated to participate in a “Calendar Girl” contest which meant if I won, I would have my photo on one month of the high school’s calendar. At the time, this was important to me because I was known as the “smart girl”, not a “pretty girl” because in high school […]
It’s important in business and in life to fully participate. Sometimes I think of this as being on the dance floor, fully participating. There’s also an adage, that sometimes you also need to get on the balcony to see the world from a different perspective. I admire people who are willing to fully participate. They […]
I have always believed that an idea shared is an idea improved. There is power in gaining the perspectives of those that are different from us in examining and improving on an idea. Companies at their essence are a collection of ideas that get implemented, ultimately leading to a growing client base. The better the […]
An industry analyst recently asked me, “What is a brand?” My response: a brand is quite simply the promise you make combined with your personality traits that are displayed in interactions with you. In the case of a company brand, it’s the promise you make to the market combined with the personality or the characteristics […]
Years ago, I remember reading my annual employee feedback, and there was a comment about me being anti-social in an elevator. At the time, I was floored that someone would take the time to write down that I had not spoken to them in an elevator. My defensive reaction was to wonder why they didn’t […]
I often talk about people with a strong work ethic. Have you ever really thought about what work ethic truly means? Do you think you have work ethic? I recently attended a keynote presentation by former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. A great storyteller, Peyton kept the audience fully engaged, but what stayed with me most […]
I learned an important lesson in a leadership class many years ago that I’ve never forgotten. There are times in leadership to get opinions and gain consensus, and there are circumstances where the leader just needs to decide. The lesson years ago was: if you’ve made the decision, communicate clearly that you have and why. […]
While flying last week I observed the ultimate level of optimism – a woman who had a roller bag that was going to fit into the overhead bin. For those that fly often, you’ve all seen it; these optimistic souls…if I place it wheels first, if I turn it around, if I try it sideways, […]
A small boy was walking slowly with his grandmother as she carefully navigated her cane on the pavement, when suddenly he asked her, “Grandma, do I have to grow up?” The grandma stopped and turned with a smile on her face and said, “Honey, you wouldn’t want to miss it. Growing your body helps you […]
Throughout my career I’ve had the opportunity to learn from some exceptional teachers on leadership; two of them being Ken Blanchard and Ed Ruggero. They stressed the importance of knowing what values are most important to you and discussing these with your team. The hardest part of doing this work is narrowing it down to […]
People that know me well would never guess that I was a computer science/math double major in college. I enjoyed my studies. Math always came easy for me and computer programming was a welcomed challenge. When I started interviewing my senior year, I considered many types of positions: sales, marketing, software engineer — all for high tech companies. […]
I was traveling recently and had a frustrating experience at the hotel. My first inclination—like so many of us, I’m sure—was to head straight to the front desk and make my complaint known. But I paused, took a breath, and reminded myself of a simple axiom: I will never regret being kind. Instead of angrily […]
While attending the CHIME conference last month, one of the keynote speakers shared a statistic that struck me: “80% of healthcare costs are self-inflicted. We are contributing to chronic disease by what we eat, drink, and smoke.” That really got my attention. Not only did I realize that we as individuals can help curb chronic […]
We live and work in an industry experiencing continuous and accelerating change. It is through these transitions that we must recognize that change is good for us—personally, professionally, culturally. Yet many of us fear change, and do so for a variety of reasons. Perhaps we’re afraid to fail, afraid of criticism, afraid of the uncertainty […]
There was a newborn baby who had an abnormal x-ray; we’ll call this newborn baby Christian. The medical team at the hospital where baby Christian was being seen, urgently sought assistance from the Chief Quality Officer of their healthcare system. Upon getting a call from the neonatal team, this physician asked them to share the […]
Last month in Florida, I was absorbing some great discussions with our Executive Client Council (ECC), a group of C-level executives from the nation’s leading health systems. I was closely following a dialog rich in insight when I was struck by two simultaneous thoughts: (1) we should do this more often, and (2) why don’t more marketers […]