Shivani Berry's Linkedin Analytics

Raise your hand if you’ve been interrupted mid-sentence - especially in a meeting full of men. 🙋🏽‍♀️ It happens more often than we’d like to admit. Women are often interrupted, ignored, or talked over, and it can feel frustrating, demoralizing, and exhausting. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here's how you can assertively take back the conversation and maintain control: 1. Pause: Don’t just keep talking. Pause, make eye contact, and say something like, “I’d like to finish my thought,” or “I wasn’t done speaking.” This sets a boundary without aggression. 2. Be silent: If someone interrupts you, let there be a brief moment of silence. This gives you space to reassert control and shows confidence in your words. 3. Repeat: If you’re cut off, calmly restate your point and say, “As I was saying…” This gently reminds everyone that your contribution deserves to be heard. 4. Use your body language: Be intentional with your posture. Sit up straight, hold your ground, and use confident gestures to reinforce your presence in the conversation. 5. Involve others: If the interruptions continue, invite others into the conversation to back you up. You can say, “I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, [name], after I finish.” Remember: You belong at the table, and your voice matters. Interruptions don’t show how credible you are. They show that others need to respect your boundaries. And you need to be confident in setting them. Don’t let anyone take that away from you. P.S. Have you experienced being interrupted in meetings? How do you handle it?

In the first 2 years of my career, I used to wing meetings. No prep, and it showed. 😬 Until my boss called me out. I struggled to gain stakeholders' trust and wondered why I wasn't landing high-stakes projects. This move was the wake-up call I needed. I became intentional with every meeting I attended. I realized if I wanted to build my influence, I had to put in the work. Here are 14 questions helped me prep for the meetings with CFOs and CEOs: 1. Who's my audience, and what do they care about? 2. What’s the meeting’s goal and key message? 3. What outcome do I need from this meeting? 4. Why should they care about my idea? 5. What’s the rationale and proof for my idea? 6. What concerns and objections might they have? 7. What questions will they ask? 8.  What info or case studies are needed? 9. Do I need earlier 1:1s to build support for my idea? 10. What fears drive their questions? 11. How can I reassure them? 12. How will I respond to unexpected pushback? 13. Is there a dominant stakeholder in the meeting? 14. What info am I missing that I can flag if needed? Winging it is easy. Everyone does it. Preparation helps you stand out, gain credibility, and build rapport. If you want to move up your career... Show stakeholders that you’re ready for it. P.S. Do you always prepare for your meetings?

The mental load is the hardest part for me. (As a CEO and a mom, here’s how I manage it daily) You know that feeling of remembering to: • Buy the birthday gift, • Send that work email, • Arrange swim lessons, • Note the diapers are low, • Process Amazon returns, • Get the presentation ready,   • Buy new shoes for my baby, • Wonder if they’re warm enough, • Decide on what to cook for dinner, • Schedule the doctor's appointment? It leaves no room for us to just be. “Just turn off” is the advice. But I can't. Here's what helps me instead: 1. To-do lists    Get everything out of your head and onto paper or an app. It frees up mental space. 2. Delegate without guilt Your partner, kids, or coworkers can handle things too. Let them. 3. Prioritize Not everything needs to be perfect or done today. Choose what matters and let go. 4. Schedule “nothing” time    Block moments to just be. Even 10 minutes of stillness makes a difference. Sometimes, thinking is more draining than doing. And it's lonely, especially because others don’t get it. See, the mental load won’t disappear overnight... But these small changes can make it lighter. P.S. Is anyone else feeling the weight of their mental checklist? What helps you manage it?👇

"You can’t have it all." But what if "all" looks different for each of us? As a CEO and a mother, I’ve learned that true success is about work-life integration. Not work-life balance. Some days, I’m leading a high-stakes meeting. On other days, I’m negotiating with a toddler who refuses to wear shoes. And both require patience, resilience, and empathy. Motherhood has made me a better leader. It’s taught me to listen more, adapt quickly, and lead wholeheartedly. And leadership has made me a better mother. It taught me to be present, lead by example, and build a future where my children (and yours) see women in positions of power without question. To all the working moms: I don't want to mislead you, because it's true. You can't have it all... At once. But you can always have what matters most. P.S. Do you think you "can have it all'? Let's talk!

Some days, I'm juggling a million things at once. Work, family, personal goals - and not everything makes it to the finish line. My to-do list? It's a never-ending loop. But I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as “perfect balance." I might not have the cleanest house or the most organized calendar, but I never miss moments that matter. - Morning hugs, - bedtime snuggles,   - weekend adventures with kids... These are non-negotiable. I used to think I could do it all. Now, I know I can do a lot. But not all at once. And that’s okay. I show up for what truly counts. Even if that means letting some things slide. To every parent who feels like they’re falling behind... You’re not. You’re making intentional choices. You're investing your energy where it counts. And you may not have perfect balance, but... You're creating a harmony that works for you. P.S. Do you try to balance everything perfectly, or do you find your own harmony that works?

She barely spoke English but went on to become the first woman to lead AI research at Google Cloud. Fei-Fei Li was born in Beijing, China, in 1976. She moved to America when she was 16. Fei-Fei had to work hard to support her family during that time. She worked as a dishwasher and helped run her family’s dry cleaning business. She went to Princeton University to study physics and pursued a Ph.D. at Caltech. Her goal was to create machines that could see like humans. And this was the start of her amazing career. In 2007, Fei-Fei Li created ImageNet. This work changed the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Her research made AI smarter and more powerful. Fei-Fei also became a professor at Stanford University. And she became the director of the Stanford AI Lab. In 2017, she co-founded AI4ALL. This group helps young people, especially girls, learn about AI. Fei-Fei showed the world that women could lead in tech. She has received many awards for her work. These include the Intel Lifetime Achievements Award and a spot on TIME’s AI 100 list. In 2024, Fei-Fei raised $230 million for a new company, World Labs. This company works on teaching AI to understand the world around us. Fei-Fei faced many challenges but kept moving forward. She turned her ideas into reality, helping to shape the future of AI. Fei-Fei is married to Stanford University professor Silvio Savarese. She is a mother of a son and a daughter. Fei-Fei’s story shows that challenges don’t define us. With determination, she transformed the future of AI. She proved success is earned, not handed to you. It’s not where you begin, but where you’re headed. ________________________________________________ ♻ Repost, so your community benefits from her story. And hit the 🔔 in the top right corner of my profile! Follow Shivani Berry for more posts like this!

5 ways to build a strong relationship with your manager (You have to take these actions immediately!) #1: Be proactive with updates. When you share progress, blockers, and solutions, your manager feels informed. #2: Co-create. Take the lead in solving problems together. A creative approach always works! #3: Get to know what’s happening in their world Empathy helps you connect. A coffee or chat can open doors. #4: Be vulnerable. Show your manager you’re committed to growing the relationship. #5: State your emotions Saying “I’m nervous” or “I’m anxious” helps you gain control. Strong relationships aren’t built on perfection but on: - trust, - understanding, - and communication. Choose one of these actions, and start building a stronger relationship today! You’ll quickly see how your connection grows. Let me know how it goes! 😉 P.S. Which of these 1-5 will you try first? P.P.S. For more details on each of these, check out my latest newsletter! Subscribe to learn more!

My friend has a colleague who is extremely misogynistic. Yet, the leadership tolerates him because he’s “a great sales guy.” Over the past years, he’s caused internal misalignment, and senior women have considered quitting. Here’s the thing: Every time an organisation tolerates bad employees because they bring good results, you create a culture where people always come last. This company will lose women in critical roles because they dare not correct one person’s behavior. Culture reflects what leadership allows. If you allow one person to poison the environment, you’re telling everyone else that results matter more than respect. When good people leave, so do the results. P.S. The real question is - how much is that “great sales guy” really worth?

She went from being homeless to building a multimillion-dollar venture capital firm that funds underrepresented founders. Arlan Hamilton was born in 1980. She didn't attend college. But Arlan taught herself about business, tech, and venture capital. Before investing, she worked in the music industry as a tour manager. She founded Interlude, an indie magazine about music and culture. But she wanted to do something bigger. In 2015, Arlan started Backstage Capital with no formal background in finance. She studied venture capital on her own, reading blogs, listening to podcasts, and analyzing startup investment trends. At the time, Arlan was homeless, sleeping on airport floors and friends’ couches while pitching her idea to investors. She saw how difficult it was for underrepresented founders to secure funding. Her breakthrough came when she convinced angel investor Susan Kimberlin to back her with an initial $25,000 investment. With that money, she officially launched Backstage Capital, starting small but with a big vision. Over time, she raised millions and invested in more than 200 companies led by underrepresented founders. In 2018, she announced a $36 million fund for Black women founders. Her success brought attention. She was featured on Startup, a Gimlet podcast. In 2018, Fortune 40 Under 40 named her one of the most influential young leaders in business. She funded scholarships for Black female pilots and students at University of Oxford. But in 2022, Backstage Capital had to lay off staff and pause new investments. Still, Arlan kept pushing forward. In 2024, she became a strategic advisor for INPINK. She also wrote It’s About Damn Time, a book about overcoming obstacles. She teaches others how to use being underestimated as an advantage. Arlan proves that success is not about where you start. It’s about believing in yourself, constant learning and... Never giving up. ________________________________________________ ♻️ Repost, so your community benefits from her story. And hit the 🔔 in the top right corner of my profile! Follow Shivani Berry for more posts like this!

“Mama, stay.” I was getting ready to work this morning. Toast half-eaten, my mind already on the day ahead. My daughter was playing with our baby and her nanny. I stopped to say hello and then turned to leave. Then she said it. For a second, I hesitated. My instinct was to say, “I’ll be back soon.” My toast was already getting cold. My to-do list was waiting. But I caught myself. So, I stayed. Just for 5 minutes. She went on with her morning, and I with mine. She got ready for school... She was happy. But that small decision... Choosing presence over productivity - stayed with me. It made me realize... It’s so easy to prioritize what’s tangible, and what can be crossed off. But the most important moments, the ones that truly matter - rarely feel urgent. Sometimes, being present feels less productive. But in the long run, it’s everything. P.S. Do you ever struggle to slow down and be present?

Her skills helped Google become one of the world’s largest companies and she was crucial in making Facebook profitable. Meet Sheryl Sandberg, the woman who revolutionized the tech world. She was born in 1969 in Washington, D.C. She went to Harvard University and graduated with honors and earned an MBA at Harvard Business School. Sheryl started her career at Larry Summers' U.S. Treasury Department as Chief of Staff. She worked there from 1996 to 2001. Then, she started working at Google. At Google, she was responsible for their online sales and operations. She played a key role in building their advertising systems, which brought in billions of dollars. Sheryl worked there from 2001 to 2008. In 2008, Facebook hired Sheryl as its Chief Operating Officer.  Her work there turned Facebook into one of the world's most valuable companies. Sheryl wrote a book called Lean In. In it, she shared advice for women in the workplace. She also founded the Lean In Foundation to support the mission of her book. She encouraged women to be confident and to take leadership roles. She also started the Ban Bossy campaign to help young girls become leaders. She wanted to stop people from calling girls “bossy” just for being strong leaders. In 2011, Forbes ranked her #5 on their list of Most Powerful Women. She consistently appeared on their lists of influential women in tech and business. In 2012, TIME magazine listed Sandberg as one of its 100 Most Influential People in the World. Unfortunately, in 2016, Sheryl's husband, Dave Goldberg, passed away suddenly. She decided to start a new foundation to continue her charitable work. She renamed it the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation to honor her late husband. Sheryl Sandberg shattered barriers, empowered women, prioritized family, raised two children, and revolutionized the tech industry. A trailblazer in every sense, her impact will continue to shape the future of tech, business, and beyond. ______________________________________________ ♻ Repost, so your community benefits from her story. And hit the 🔔 in the top right corner of my profile! Follow Shivani Berry for more posts like this!

She overcame racism, a family crisis, and self-doubt to become one of the most powerful women in the world. A former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama was born in 1964 in Chicago. Mechelle's family didn’t have much money. She faced racism, especially in school, as she was one of the few African-American students in some of her classes. These challenges made her more determined to succeed and achieve her dreams. Michelle went to Princeton University and studied sociology and African-American studies. She later went to Harvard Law School and became a lawyer. Michelle started her career at a law firm. She met Barack Obama there. They quickly became friends and soon a couple. In 1992, they got married. They had two daughters, Malia and Sasha. As Michelle’s family grew, so did her career. She worked at Public Allies and the University of Chicago Hospitals. In 2008, her husband, Barack, became a presidential candidate. Michelle supported him as he ran for president. When Barack became president in 2009, Michelle became First Lady. She worked on important issues like healthy eating and education. She launched the "Let's Move!" campaign to help children stay healthy. She also started the "Reach Higher" program to encourage students to aim high. Michelle was often criticized for focusing on fashion instead of politics. But Michelle didn’t let it stop her. She stayed focused on what mattered most - helping people. She wrote a best-selling memoir, Becoming. Forbes has consistently ranked her among the world's most powerful women, especially for her role as First Lady and her advocacy work. Time magazine named her one of the "100 most influential people" in the world multiple times. Gallup also named her the most admired woman in the U.S. for several years in a row. No matter how hard the challenges were, Michelle never backed down. She kept going after her dreams, stayed true to her values, and made the world a better place.