Senior Manager Strategy & Transformation in the Financial Services | Strategic Leadership Coach | Speaker | Mentor | Leader, passionate about people and continuous organizational improvement | 2x LinkedIn Top Voice

Global Senior Manager with 15+ years' banking experience in areas of Enterprise Risk Management, Governance, Strategic Transformation Projects, and Change Management with a heavy focus on Executive Leadership Reporting. Demonstrated ability to cultivate strong relationships, influence others, and lead high performing teams that advance global priorities. 

Committed to continuous organization improvement, enhancing customer experience and delivering solutions to support strategic financial and business decision-making. 

As a persuasive communicator fluent in English and Spanish, I effectively engage with clients, regulators, stakeholders, management, and staff at all levels. My diverse background includes extensive experience in ERM frameworks, risk culture programs, control assessments, audits, capital structure optimization, and statistical modelling for risk management matters. Leader with a proven track record of leading large-scale projects, implementing change management strategies, and delivering cost savings through efficient project management methodologies.

Core competences include:
•Enterprise Risk Management •Governance & Compliance •Operational Risk •Internal Audit • Executive Leadership Reporting & Analytics •Project Management •Change Management •Data Risk •Model Risk •Strategic Risk •Coaching & Talent Development •SAS/SPSS/DWH •SharePoint & Power Apps •Power BI/Python/R •Copilot •Agile/ Waterfall •JIRA/Confluence •Six Sigma/Kaizen •Protiviti

Diana Lasso

Fear isn’t the enemy. 
Staying stuck is!

Comfort zones feel safe.
But they also keep us small.

You want more:
➟ Impact
➟ Fulfillment
➟ Confidence

Yet fear whispers: What if you fail?
Instead, ask: What if you don’t?

Every breakthrough starts with discomfort.
Every success story begins with a risk.

As Nelson Mandela said, 
"Courage is not the absence of fear, 
but the triumph over it."

You don’t need to take a giant leap.
Just one step forward.

P.S. What’s one change that helped you grow?

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What makes someone a Top Performer?
 → It’s not a title
 → It’s not a one-time win
 → It’s who you are, every single day!

In a company with 90,000 employees across 55 countries, 
standing out is hard.

→ The pressure is real.
→ The expectations are high.
→ And some days feel heavier than others.

But I’m here to tell you something important:
It is possible!

Yesterday, I felt deeply humbled and grateful
to receive the Best of the Best award
in the Top Individual Performance category.

Thank you to my Senior Leadership Team,
my team, my mentors, my mentees,
my LinkedIn community, and to you reading this.
This recognition belongs to all of you!

Thank you for the space, the trust, and
the support to live my purpose and 
show up as the best version of myself.

Leadership is a shared journey, and
I’m grateful to walk it with you.

Here are my 3 secrets:

1- Clarity of purpose:
 → Know exactly why you do what you do.
 → Turn that “why” into daily, intentional actions.

2- Commitment to growth:
 → Invite feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable.
 → See every challenge as a chance to evolve.

3: Consistency with heart:
 → Show up fully. especially on the hard days.
 → Deliver not only results but trust.

As Aristotle said,
"Excellence is not an act, it is a habit." 

Be the person who gets things done.
You already have what it takes!

P.S. What’s your go-to strategy to perform at your best?

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Good luck is a myth.
A story we tell ourselves.
A comforting tale that makes success look effortless.

But here’s the truth:
The master has failed more times
than the beginner has even tried.

This isn’t about luck.
 ↳ It’s resilience.
 ↳ It’s persistence.
 ↳ It’s showing up, again and again.

Think of Thomas Edison.
When asked about his thousands of failed attempts
before inventing the light bulb, he said:
“I have not failed.
 I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Success is a collection of failures.
 
Failures that:
 ↳ Teach
 ↳ Shape leaders
 ↳ Build character

Leaders aren’t born.
They are forged through experiences,
especially the painful ones.

Mastery evolves every time you show up.
 ↳ Showing up builds resilience.
 ↳ Showing up strengthens your effort.
 ↳ Showing up reinforces your choice to grow.

So, the next time you see someone succeed, remember:
It wasn’t good luck.
It was good lessons learned.

The road to mastery is built on failures,
each one a stepping stone to something greater.

Your story is proof of your resilience. Own it!

P.S. What small win are you proud of today?

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Sometimes all you need is charisma
(and one moment taught me exactly why).

Five years ago, I walked into a meeting
already feeling rushed.

Too many tasks.
Too many tabs open in my mind.
Too many versions of me trying to keep it together.

I sat down, pretending to be fine.
Inside, I was overloaded.

Then a colleague looked at me
and gave me a simple, open, genuine smile.
I still remember it like it was yesterday.

We’ve all met someone like that.
Someone whose presence feels warm.
Someone who makes you feel good
before a single word is spoken.

In that moment, something shifted.
My shoulders relaxed.
My breath slowed.
I felt seen.

No words.
Just presence.
And the entire room felt different.

That moment taught me something powerful:
Charisma begins before you speak.
It’s the emotional message you send
When your inner world feels steady.

Charisma is not a performance.
It’s a practice.

Charisma is about:
→ Feeling aligned with yourself.
→ Connecting with warmth and intention.
→ Leaving people emotionally better.

If you want to lead well,
You must work on your presence.

When we train our presence, we:
→ Build trust faster.
→ Strengthen connection.
→ Create safer, warmer spaces at work.

Here are 5 simple ways to train your charisma every day:
→ Ground your energy before you enter a room.
→ Show warmth in small, genuine ways.
→ Keep your posture open and steady.
→ Listen fully, without rushing the moment.
→ Aim for people to feel lighter after talking to you.

As Brené Brown says,
“Connection is why we’re here.”

Charisma grows when you feel calm inside.
It expands when you lead with warmth.
And it becomes unforgettable
When your presence helps others breathe easier.

P.S. What’s one small action you'll practice today to grow your charisma?

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Your team needs a leader, not just a boss.
The difference changes everything.

Bad Leaders:
→ Focus on blame
→ Criticize in public
→ Avoid responsibility

Good Leaders:
→ Praise in public
→ Focus on solutions
→ Take responsibility

As Simon Sinek said,
"Bad leaders care about who's right, and 
Good leaders care about what's right."

Leadership is not about power. 
It's about empowering others!

Do the right thing, always. 
Be the leader you wish you had.

P.S. What's one quality you admire in a great leader?

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Anyone can lead when things are easy.
But the real measure of a leader?
How you treat people when things fall apart.

Kindness is often misunderstood.

It’s not:
 → Saying yes to everything.
 → Pretending everything is fine.
 → Avoiding the hard conversations.

Kindness is how you show up when it matters most.

→ It’s courage to make the right call.
→ It’s respect, especially when emotions run high.
→ It's clarity, even when the truth is uncomfortable.

As Brené Brown said, 
“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”

Kindness costs nothing.
But its impact?
↳ Huge

Lead with heart and let that be your legacy.

P.S. What’s your go-to strategy to lead with kindness?

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Your next chapter starts with one simple step:
Understanding the one you just finished.

Most people rush into planning 2026:
→ New goals
→ New dreams
→ New intentions

But here’s the truth:
You can’t design your future 
If you don’t understand your present.

→ We forget our wins.
→ We magnify the hard moments.
→ We overlook the small things that made us feel alive.

As Stephen Covey said,
“Begin with the end in mind.”
And that starts by knowing where you’re standing today.

Here are 5 Tips to Create Intentional Goals for 2026:

1. Revisit your year:
✓ Review your calendar to remember what actually happened.
✓ Write down the top 3 moments that defined your year (good or bad)

2. Track the moments that made you happier:
✓ Identify where you felt most alive (places, people, activities)
✓ Highlight 3 things you want to feel more often next year.

3. Write down what worked, and what didn’t:
✓ Capture 3 wins you want to repeat in 2026.
✓ Capture 3 things you’re ready to leave behind.

4. Capture the lessons that shaped you:
✓ Write the 3 biggest lessons this year taught you.
✓ Turn each lesson into one simple action for 2026.

5. Notice what is changing around you:
✓ Acknowledge shifting priorities (family, health, values)
✓ Set one goal that honors the reality of where you are now.

2026 isn’t just another year.
It’s an invitation to create a life with clarity, intention, and truth.

And when you're ready, use the SMART method:

 S —  Specific: Clear and concrete.
 M — Measurable: With a number you can track.
 A —  Achievable: Realistic for your life today.
 R —  Relevant: Connected to your values and priorities.
 T —  Time-bound: With a deadline that creates momentum.

SMART makes your goals:
→ Real
→ Visible
→ Actionable

And here’s the best part:
When you gain clarity, your confidence returns.
When you choose with intention, your energy rises.
And when you design your year with truth, 
Your life begins to feel like it’s finally yours again.

Step into 2026 with clarity. Lead it with purpose.

P.S. What’s one insight from 2025 that will guide your goals for 2026?

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Your resume opens the door.
Your Power Skills decide if you stay in the room.

The game has changed.

Today, everyone has:
↳ Talent
↳ Credentials
↳ Experience

So, what makes you different
In a global, fast-moving world?

Your judgment.

Maybe you’ve felt it too,
you deliver, you show up, you care…
and still, growth feels out of reach.

Your next promotion isn’t about time in the company.
↳ It’s about how you interpret information,
↳ anticipate what’s coming,
↳ and make decisions with a human touch.

And the data is clear:
LinkedIn: Power Skills drive 89% of promotions.
McKinsey: Strong judgment improves decisions 3.8x.
IBM: Critical thinking and adaptability are CEOs’ top 3 priorities.
WEF: Cognitive flexibility is the #1 differentiator for 2030.
PwC: 72% of executives value judgment over technical expertise.

AI can give you all the data you want.
But your Power Skills
will define your future.

That’s why I created the 5-step MINDS Formula
to help you stand out in rooms where decisions are made.

M — Map:
→ Name the real problem in one sentence.
→ Identify the three elements that shape the outcome.

I — Investigate:
→ Look for the pattern behind the data.
→ Ask what’s missing, not just what’s shown.

N — Notice:
→ Picture the best and worst scenario.
→ Identify who will feel each choice.

D — Design:
→ Create two or three real options.
→ Test a small step before a big decision.

S — Sense:
→ Combine data, intuition, and ethics.
→ Choose what you can explain calmly a year from now.

As Albert Einstein said:
“Not everything that counts can be counted.” 

Leadership starts when you trust your own decisions.
Own your growth.
Own your judgment.
Own the leader you’re becoming.

P.S. Which step of the MINDS Formula speaks to you today?

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Use my 5-step MINDS formula to help you stand out by DL

Now that you’re back in person,
You feel more tired when you get home.

You are not alone
This has a name: Neurofatigue.

When your brain moves from a controlled environment
to noise, movement, conversations, fluorescent lights,
and constant social evaluation,
Its energy drains faster.

Deloitte found it in 2024:
↳ Emotional exhaustion rises by 52%

You’re not losing capacity.
You’re navigating overexposure.

But you can protect your energy.
You can also train your brain to adapt.

Here are 5 Simple Anchors to Stay Strong During In-Person Work:

1. Manage your brain’s load early:
↳ Simple mornings create stronger days.
➟ Pick one clear priority first.
➟ Delay non-urgent chats until after your focus block.

2. Give yourself small pauses:
↳ Tiny resets work wonders.
➟ Take a quiet 3-minute pause between tasks.
➟ Stand and walk every hour to release tension.

3. Use your social energy wisely:
↳ Connection fuels you. 
➟ Choose two meaningful conversations to invest in.
➟ Step away when everything feels too intense.

4. Protect the space where you think:
↳ Your attention is gold.
➟ Review emails in set time blocks.
➟ Turn off notifications during deep work.

5. Take care of your body:
↳ Physical comfort boosts mental clarity.
➟ Keep water at your desk and sip often.
➟ Add small stretches during the day to release tension.

As Maya Angelou said,
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

You may not shape every moment in the office.
But you can shape how you care for your energy.

You grow stronger when you honor your rhythm.
You gain clarity when you support your mind.
You protect your presence when you lead yourself first.

P.S. Which anchor will you practice today?

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Your work opens the door.
Your evidence keeps you in the room.

The competition isn’t the real challenge.
The lack of documentation is.

In a world where excellence is the baseline, everyone brings:
 ↳ Skill
 ↳ Ambition
 ↳ Performance

So, what truly sets you apart
in a fast-moving, global environment?
Your visibility.

Maybe you’ve felt it too…
 ↳ you deliver, you show up, you exceed expectations
and still, your growth moves slower than your impact.

Your next promotion isn’t about effort.
 ↳ It’s about what you can prove,
 ↳ how clearly you show your value,
 ↳ and the story your achievements tell for you.

Here’s the truth:
What isn’t documented gets lost.
What you capture becomes career capital.

That’s why I created the 7-step EVIDENT Formula
to help you make your results impossible to ignore.

E — Extract:
 → Capture the real outcome you created.
 → Name the problem you solved in one sentence.

V — Verify:
 → Collect numbers, emails, and indicators that prove impact.
 → Anchor your narrative in real data.

I — Illustrate:
 → Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
 → Make your contribution unmistakable.

D — Document:
 → Keep a monthly log of actions, results, and insights.
 → Build a timeline of measurable growth.

E — Elevate:
 → Share wins with intention in meetings and updates.
 → Visibility with substance, not ego.

N — Normalize:
 → Make evidence a habit, not an exception.
 → Review it before interviews, evaluations, or negotiations.

T — Tell:
 → Turn your data into a compelling story.
 → Show how your impact moves the business forward.

As Seneca said:
 “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Your achievements deserve a record.
Your career deserves visibility.
Your future deserves to be EVIDENT.

Leadership grows when your impact is seen.

P.S. Which step of the EVIDENT Formula speaks to you today?

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7-step EVIDENT formula to help you enhance your results

What my niece taught me about delegation 
(it transformed my team’s productivity since)

Last weekend, I decided to teach my 5-year-old niece
how to make the bed. 

Normally, it takes me just a few minutes. 
But she was excited to help, so I couldn’t say no. 

I showed her how to pull up the sheets, 
smooth out the blanket and arrange the pillows. 

She struggled a bit ... tugging the blanket unevenly
and getting the pillows all mixed up. 

We had to redo a few steps, and 
it ended up taking much longer than usual. 

In the end, it took nearly 20 minutes. 
But by the time we were done, 
she had learned something new 
and something to brag to her brother about!

Delegation is not just about offloading tasks.

Delegation is about:
→ Empowering others to learn and grow. 
→ Fostering a culture of capability and independence. 
→ Leveraging diverse strengths to achieve greater results.

When we invest our time in training and coaching others, we: 
→ Cultivate trust.
→ Build a stronger team.
→ Encourage innovation. 

As John Maxwell says,
“Leaders become great, not because of their power, 
but because of their ability to empower others.”

Delegation is an investment 
in someone else’s growth and confidence. 
Invest in your people today!

P.S. What’s one small responsibility you could delegate today to help someone grow?

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We all have days when you feel on top of the world. 
The next day, it’s hard to get out of the bed. 
But let’s be honest: motivation doesn’t last.

Here’s why you shouldn’t rely on it:
→ It’s Unpredictable: Motivation varies daily 
→ It Can Fade: Excitement diminishes over time
→ It Lacks Structure: No plan for sustained progress 

That’s where discipline comes in.

Discipline is like a muscle:
→ Provide Consistency: Ensures daily commitment 
→ Builds Strong Habits: Habits drive results 
→ Keeps You Accountable: Maintain focus on goals

As Aristotle said,
“We become what we repeatedly do.” 

So, the next time you rely on motivation, 
Remember: it’s your discipline that will carry you through.

In the end, Discipline is doing what needs to be done, 
even when you don’t want to.

P.S. What habit are you strengthening this week?

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People love the finish line.
Few see the grit it took to get there.

Because success isn’t built on luck.
It’s built on resilience, focus, and 
tiny steps that no one applauds.

For years, you might’ve believed:
↳ “Once everything aligns, I’ll move forward.”
↳ “If I had more time, I’d do better.”
↳ “When things calm down, I’ll start.”

Those beliefs once protected you.
Now, they hold you back.

Many high performers professionals lose momentum because:
❌ They wait for perfect conditions.
❌ They let setbacks define their pace.
❌ They forget that progress requires endurance, not ease.

Here’s the truth:
You don’t need a smoother road.
You need a stronger mindset.

Here are 5 Ways to Stay Strong When Growth Feels Slow:

1- Start before you’re ready:
↳ Courage grows through movement.
➟ One imperfect step beats endless planning.

2- Treat challenges as training:
↳ Pressure shapes character.
➟ Every hard moment prepares you for the next.

3- Focus on what you can control:
↳ Chaos is constant.
➟ Your focus is your anchor.

4- Protect your recovery:
↳ Your brain needs oxygen to think.
➟ Resilience depends on renewal.

5- Keep your “why” close:
↳ When you know your why, you can handle any how.
➟ One priority. One outcome. Real progress.

As Angela Duckworth said,
“Our potential is one thing. 
What we do with it is quite another.”

Don’t chase perfection. Build persistence.
Rome wasn’t built in a day
and neither is your growth.
You already have what it takes.
Trust your process, the results will follow.

P.S. Which step speaks to you the most?

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The moment you choose yourself…
your energy begins to return.

But burnout rarely starts with a big moment.
It starts with the tiny ones you ignore:

The moment you push through the headache.
The moment you answer one more email at 10 PM.
The moment you whisper, “I’ll rest later.”

And suddenly…
Later never comes.

According to Gallup,
1 in 5 professionals is experiencing burnout right now.

Not because they lack talent.
But because high-performing professionals tend to overgive.
Instead of reducing their load, they carry more.
And what begins as dedication slowly becomes depletion.

Burnout is a silent disease.

Maybe you’ve been there:
➟ You deliver
➟ You support
➟ You show up

And still, your body struggles.

Not because you lack discipline.
But because you stopped listening to yourself.

That’s why I created the 7-step RENEWAL Formula
to bring you back to the leader you are:

R — Reduce strain:
➟ Ask for clarity on deadlines.
➟ Cut one commitment that drains you.

E — Ease your nervous system:
➟ Practice 3–5 breathing twice a day.
➟ Take short pauses to reset your mind.

N — Nurture connections:
➟ Share pressure points early.
➟ Reach out to someone supportive weekly.

E — Establish daily limits:
➟ Protect recovery windows.
➟ Set a hard stop for the workday.

W — Withdraw from noise:
➟ Silence notifications before sleep.
➟ Reduce evening screen exposure.

A — Adjust your workload:
➟ Clarify what truly needs you.
➟ Redistribute tasks with your leader.

L — Live your core values:
➟ Write your top 5 values.
➟ Choose actions that honor them.

As Maya Angelou said:
“Nothing will work unless you do.”

Sustainable leadership begins the moment 
You choose your health as part of your success.

Honor your energy.
Honor your health.
Honor the life you’re building.

P.S. Which step of the RENEWAL Formula speaks to you today?

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Use my 7-step RENEWAL formula to bring you back by DL

Do you feel your team could achieve more?
The secret lies in investing in your people.

Last week, we celebrated the graduation of 
our HOLA Mentorship Program 2025.
What a journey it's been!

Leading this program has been a true honor.
Seeing 270 Mentors and Mentees 
grow has been truly inspiring.

A huge THANK YOU to our Mentors and Mentees
for believing in our team's growth. 
Your dedication and commitment make us stronger every day.

Special thanks to our allies in Mexico Adda Nelly Lopez Gallegos, Emmanuel Serrano Loza, Edgar Ricardo Araujo Alcántara and our HOLA Canadian team Ellis Mendez (MSc, MBA, PMP®, CSM®, CSPO®, ITIL®), Federico Yu, 
Andrea Alonso-Kuri and Pablo Cuevas. 
We couldn’t have done this without you.
Thank you for your collaboration and support.

Why invest in your team?

→ Growth
↳ Investing in your team fuels their personal 
and professional growth.
A growing team is an evolving team.

→ Retention
↳ People stay where they feel valued and developed.
Retention isn’t just about pay; it’s about purpose.

→ Innovation
↳ A well mentored team is an innovative team.
They bring fresh ideas and solutions to the table.

As John Quincy Adams said,
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, 
learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

Your team’s growth reflects your leadership.

P.S. What’s your favorite strategy to help your team grow?

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If you only measured three things this week,
you’d transform your entire career.

Anyone can look busy.
But the real measure of a strategic leader?
What you choose to track.

Because productivity is often misunderstood.

It’s not:
 → Checking off tasks.
 → Going from meeting to meeting.
 → Replying to every email the moment it appears.

Productivity is how you direct your energy with intention.
 → It’s moving one strategic goal forward.
 → It’s solving the problem that actually matters.
 → It’s strengthening the relationships that elevate your influence.

For years, many professionals believed:
 ↳ “If I finish everything on my list, I’m performing.”
 ↳ “If I stay busy, I’m adding value.”
 ↳ “If I join every meeting, I’m leading.”

Those beliefs once helped you survive.
Now, they limit your impact.

Here’s the truth:
You don’t rise by doing more.
You rise by measuring what matters.

Here are the 3 metrics that can elevate your leadership:

1- Value (Impact Today):
What problem did you truly solve?
Real value comes from outcomes, not effort.

2- Progress (% Implementation):
How much did you move your quarterly goal?
One needle moved is worth more than tasks completed.

3- Relationship (Influence & Alignment):
Who did you align, support, or strengthen this week?
Leadership grows through trust, not titles.

As Peter Drucker said,
“What gets measured gets managed.”

 ↳ Lead with clarity.
 ↳ Measure with intention.
 ↳ And let your metrics tell the story your calendar never will.

P.S. Which of these 3 indicators is your favorite?

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Big goals don’t fail from lack of talent.
They fail from a lack of focus.

You don’t need more time.
You need fewer distractions.

The hard part isn’t setting the goal.
It’s protecting it.

Every ping, every scroll, every “just 5 minutes” 
chips away at the future you said you wanted.

Distractions aren’t harmless.
They’re expensive.
And they often wear the mask of productivity.

Answering one more email.
Rewriting the plan instead of executing it.
Saying “yes” to things that don’t move you forward.

Here’s the truth:
If everything matters, nothing does.

When you protect your goal:
➟ You move with intention
➟ You reclaim your energy
➟ You make progress faster

As James Clear said:
“You don’t rise to the level of your goals. 
You fall to the level of your systems.”

So, build systems that honour your focus.
And stop negotiating with your distractions.

P.S. What’s one small habit that helps you stay focused each day?

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Visual: VisualsbyMelodi🙏

You can ask for a raise all year…
and still walk out with nothing.

Because compensation isn’t about effort.
It’s about value, demonstrated with clarity.

For years, you believed:
↳ “If I show how hard I work, they’ll see it.”
↳ “If I’ve been here long enough, I deserve more.”
↳ “If others earn more, I should match them.”

Those beliefs once helped you survive.
Now, they’re hurting your strategy.

Many high performers fail in negotiations because:
❌ They negotiate from efforts, not impact.
❌ They compare themselves to others and create friction.
❌ They speak from emotion instead of measurable results.

But here’s the truth:
You don’t need more justification.
You need more evidence.

Here are 5 ways to negotiate your salary like a Strategic Leader:

1 — Know your impact before you ask:
↳ Confidence comes from data.
➟ List your top wins and estimate your results.

2 — Speak in outcomes:
↳ Effort is invisible. Results are undeniable.
➟ Turn your work into numbers, savings, or improvements.

3 — Build a simple business case:
↳ A raise is an investment, not a favor.
➟ Show how your contributions strengthen the future of the team.

4 — Think in total compensation:
↳ Growth has many forms.
➟ Explore bonuses, stock, certifications, or development programs.

5 — Choose your moment wisely:
↳ Timing gives you leverage.
➟ Ask after a win, a success, or a visible achievement.

As Peter Drucker said,
“What gets measured gets managed,
and what gets measured gets rewarded.”

You don’t earn a raise with hours.
You earn it with impact.
Visible. Measurable. Irrefutable.
And it all begins with one step: own your value.

P.S. Which of these steps will you apply in your next negotiation?

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You can work hard all day…
and still feel like you didn’t move anything forward.

Because productivity isn’t about doing more.
It’s about directing your mind with intention.

For years, you believed:
↳ “If I keep multitasking, I’ll get ahead.”
↳ “Jumping between tasks means I’m fast.”
↳ “Being busy means I’m productive.”

Those beliefs once helped you survive.
Now, they’re draining your clarity.

Many high performers lose impact because:
❌ They overload their brain with constant switching.
❌ They stay in reaction mode all day.
❌ They confuse activity with progress.

But here’s the truth:
You don’t need more speed.
You need more focus.

Here are 5 ways to work smart when your mind feels overloaded:

1- Choose one task at a time:
↳ Your brain performs better with one target.
➟ Single task. Full presence.

2- Cut distraction triggers:
↳ Noise kills clarity.
➟ Fewer tabs. Fewer apps. Fewer pings.

3- Protect your deep work:
↳ Focus is a boundary.
➟ Block time. Close doors. Own your attention.

4- Reset your mind often:
↳ Your brain needs oxygen to think.
➟ Step away. Take breaks. Breathe.

5- Pick your “one win” for the day:
↳ Impact comes from direction, not volume.
➟ One priority. One outcome. Real progress.

As Cal Newport says,
“Focus is the new superpower.”

You can’t multiply your brain.
But you can multiply your impact when you protect your attention.

P.S. Which habit will you reset today?

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What my high school nuns taught me about managing energy 
(It transformed my leadership style and my team's effectiveness)

At high school, I was juggling basketball, volleyball, and homework, often feeling drained by the end of the day.

No matter how organized I was, 
The exhaustion never seemed to go away.

One afternoon, one of the nuns looked at me and said:
“You don’t need to manage your time.
You need to manage your energy.”
That sentence stuck with me for life.

Here’s what I learned over the years:

1- Set a clear goal: 
Such as ending your day feeling energized.

2- Identify your why: 
Like being present for your family and pursuing your passions.

3- Implement a plan: 
Simple changes like regular breaks and 
focusing on energizing tasks can make a big impact.

Managing energy keeps you going when the tasks seem endless. It allows you to show up as your best self.

As Oprah said:
“You can’t be a source for others if you’re running on empty.”

So, if you feel drained, pause and reassess.

Ask yourself not just what you need to do, 
but how you want to feel while doing it.

Your energy is your most valuable resource.

P.S. What’s your goal for energy management?

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For years, I architected cloud solutions that transformed how organizations operated. 

I led $2M+ projects across 5+ business units at BMO, TELUS Health, and CN Rail—delivering results like 40% reduced downtime, 30% faster deployments, and 99.95% system availability. I was good at what I did. 

The metrics proved it.

But here’s what they didn’t show: I was usually the only Black woman in the room.

I watched talented women of color work twice as hard for half the visibility, not because they lacked skills, but because they lacked the frameworks and positioning that come easily when you fit the mold. 

I realized I was applying systems thinking to infrastructure while my community needed someone to architect pathways to visibility and power.

So I left corporate tech to build something that mattered.I founded my coaching practice to empower BIPOC women to become confidently visible and economically powerful. 

In just under a year, we’ve served 30+ women through events and coaching, helping them overcome imposter syndrome, achieve promotions, and build the strategic positioning I had to figure out alone.

I bring the same rigor to this work that I brought to tech: the operational excellence that delivered 100% on-time execution, the strategic planning that cut cloud costs by 18%, the stakeholder management from leading cross-functional teams. 

But now it’s in service of women who look like me.

Through my coaching practice, I help BIPOC women translate their expertise into visibility, their visibility into demand, and their demand into economic power. 

Because confidence isn’t just a feeling, It’s strategy. and Visibility isn’t luck, it’s currency.

Credentials: MBA in AI | AWS Solutions Architect Professional | PMP | 8+ years leading enterprise IT transformations  | Certified Coach

Sophia Adio, MBA,PMP.

Authenticity in an interview comes from authenticity in your daily life.

The ones who are getting job offers aren’t always the most qualified. 

They’re the most self-aware.

A client once reached out me and said: 

“I keep making it to final rounds, but they always choose someone else.”

We did a mock interview. I asked about a past failure.

She gave me a polished story.
Impressive, but hollow.

So I pushed: 
“What did that moment teach you about yourself?” 

Silence.

That was the gap. 
Not her skills. 

But in her connection with her own story.
These 16 interview techniques aren’t hacks. 

They’re habits that reveal who you are:
→ Pausing before you speak shows you actually think
→ Owning your red flags shows integrity
→ Treating everyone with respect shows character

If you’re scrambling to “prepare” for these the night before, you’re already behind.

The interview is just the mirror.

In reality, are you preparing for the interview 

or preparing to become the person who naturally does these things?

There’s a big difference; one gets you callbacks, and the other gets you offers.

If you want to show up in your next interview with 

clarity, confidence, and the kind of self-awareness hiring managers can feel, 

send me a DM with the word “INTERVIEW” and we can discuss walk your next steps.

📸 Credit: George Stern

Founder & Career/Mindset Coach | Coaching mid-career BIPOC women in tech who feel stuck, unseen, or undervalued break through visibility ceilings and secure the promotions and pay they deserve | AWS Cloud Architect | PMP

I still remember the rooms where I was the only woman. 

That memory shapes every choice I make as a leader now. 

A few months ago, I became President of BIT Lagos, a non-profit under the global, Blacks In Technology Foundation

And I now lead a team of 10 board members and members of over 150.

We serve marginalized communities and help people unlock career and business potential. 

The title is not what moves me. 
The environment I create does. 

I remember rooms where I: 
• worked twice as hard to be heard 
• smiled through disrespect 
• questioned if I even belonged there 

I walked out of those rooms with a quiet promise to myself: 

When I become a leader, no one on my team or leadership will feel that way. 

So here is what I build at BIT Lagos: 
• A space where people feel welcomed, not tolerated 
• A culture where contribution matters more than “fitting in.” 
• A table where different views are invited and valued 
• A team where you can be yourself and still be seen as a leader 

I do not want to copy the leadership I saw. 
I want to design the leadership I wish I had. 

Because the world needs more leaders who remember how it feels to be overlooked and undervalued.

and still choose to open the door wider for others. 

If you are a woman who feels ready for more leadership and more impact, send me a message. 

Let's talk about how to make that happen in your career.

If you’re always on autopilot, you’re not leading, you’re just surviving

As leaders, we are often taught to push, improve and optimize. 

And yes, I know becoming the best version of yourself is powerful.

But so is pausing to acknowledge how far you’ve come.

The reality is that too many high-achieving women operate on autopilot:

☑ juggling heavy workloads
☑ supporting entire teams
☑ hitting deadlines no one else could
☑ carrying invisible responsibilities
☑ and still feeling like they haven’t done “enough”

But leadership isn’t only about what you achieve.

Fulfilling your goals isnt about the destination.

It’s also about how you support yourself while achieving it.

Take a moment today to:

- Reflect on a recent win.
- Celebrate the effort you put in.
- Allow yourself to breathe freely without guilt.
- Recognize your growth, even if it’s quiet progress.

Because the women who thrive long-term aren’t the ones who push the hardest. 

They’re the ones who balance ambition with grace.

Your progress deserves to be acknowledged, especially by you.

Before you question your ability, question the environment evaluating it.

As BIPOC women in leadership, we've often 

experienced firsthand what it feels like to be underestimated or undervalued 

simply because we were in the wrong room, 
the wrong role, or the wrong company.

We know that our capabilities didn't change; 
the environment's ability to recognize them did.

This is why choosing where you invest your energy isn't selfish.

 It's necessary.

The question isn't whether you are good enough.

The question is whether you're in an environment that lets you thrive.

My bid to you this week:

Stop proving your worth in environments that don't value it.

Start actively seeking cultures, networks, employers, 

and communities where your value shines.

You don't lack talent. You might just lack the right conditions to show it.

♻️ Repost to encourage someone to find
spaces where they can thrive not just survive.

Ola almost missed her own promotion… over a typo.

When I first met Ola, she was brilliant, but hesitant. 

She’d spend hours perfecting emails, 
presentations, even casual slack messages, 

afraid of making a small mistake. 

One day, she almost didn’t submit a 

proposal because a single sentence didn’t feel “perfect.”

A psychological fear that existed only in her mind.

I coached her to trust in herself, take a leap: submit anyway. 

She did. 

The proposal was a hit. 
Her ideas, her voice, her impact, it all got noticed.

The proposal created a ripple effect that lead to her promotion.

Ola gradually realized confidence isn’t about perfection. 

It’s about showing up, even with small imperfections.

Now, she:

- Speaks up in meetings without overthinking every word
- Sends work out before obsessing over tiny details
- Lets her ideas lead, not fear

To women holding back over small things: 

your ideas matter, your voice matters.

You are enough. 

DM me if you’re ready to unlock your Ola 

moment and step into the career that’s waiting for you,

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Work-life balance is a lie sold to professional women.
Hear me out

The system was never designed for you to win at both.

You're expected to:
- Lead like you have no children
- Parent like you have no career
- Show up early, stay late, and still make the school pickup
- Be ambitious but not "too much"
- Set boundaries but remain a "team player"

The mental load can be crushing.
And when you finally burn out?

They'll call your time management problem.

From my experience as a mother, 
professional woman, business owner and coach,

Here's the truth I've learned from experience:

Stop chasing balance. 
Start protecting your priorities.
Balance suggests everything gets equal weight.
It doesn't. 

IT CAN'T

Some seasons demand more of your career.
Some seasons demand more of your family.
Some seasons demand you choose yourself.

Work-life balance isn't about splitting yourself in half.

It's about being whole in whatever season you're in.

As a mother/professional/businesswoman, what's one thing you stopped feeling guilty about? 

♻️ Repost for the woman who needs to hear this today

You're doing the work but someone else is getting the credit.

We need to retire the idea that confidence has to be loud to be real.

Somewhere along the way, we learned a dangerous idea:

- That confidence has to be loud to be real.

- That the people who talk the most deserve to be heard.

- That presence equals volume.

But I've watched brilliant women lead quietly,

the ones who think deeply before they speak, 

who notice what everyone else misses.

And they're constantly overlooked.

What I want to see change:

✅Workplaces that stop equating volume with value.

✅Environments that stop only promoting people who lead like the folks already at the top.

✅That actually create space for all of us to lead authentically.

Because when we get to show up as ourselves, on our own terms,

That's when real innovation happens.

That's when equity becomes more than a buzzword.

If you're tired of being overlooked for promotions despite doing the work,

Send me a message.

Let's talk about how to change that.

Stop treating your LinkedIn like a digital filing cabinet. 

While you’re listing job duties, someone else is building a brand that recruiters can’t ignore.

Here is how:


1/. Your headline isn’t your job title, it’s your value proposition.

Instead of Marketing Manager,

try “Helping B2B companies scale from $1M to $10M through data-driven growth.” 

One states what you are. The other sells what you do.

2/. Your experience section should tell stories, not list tasks. 

Use this: Challenge you faced → Action you took → Result you achieved. 

“Increased sales” means nothing. 

“Drove 47% revenue growth in Q3 by implementing new outreach” opens doors.

3/. Show up consistently. 

Share one genuine insight per week. 

Comment thoughtfully on 5 posts daily from your target companies. 

The algorithm rewards engagement over perfection. 

4/. Get strategic with connections. 

Engage with recruiters’ content before pitching yourself. 

Add value first.

The jobs you want are going to people with better visibility. 

Your LinkedIn works for you 24/7, make sure it’s saying the right things.

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Sophia Adio, MBA,PMP.

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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