Allison's Journey: Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity in Leadership

08/14/24 • 38 min

The "Dear Future CRO" Podcast by GrowthQ

GrowthQ Community, in this insightful session with the amazing Allison West Hughes, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, Allison shares her transformative journey of embracing vulnerability and authenticity in her leadership style, thanks to the groundbreaking work of Brene Brown. We dove deep into the challenges and rewards of uncovering, the importancei of embracing your authentic self, being open about personal struggles, like disabilities, in the workplace and being intentional about what support and accommodations looks like.. Allison's experiences at Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Telcos, and ServiceNow taught her invaluable lessons about building trust, optimizing sales, and navigating complex stakeholder dynamics. Her resilience and intentional approach to professional development are truly inspiring. Allison's advice for future CROs? Embrace patience, enjoy the ride, and cultivate strategic partnerships within your organization. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on the wisdom she dropped in this session. Head over to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ to catch the full episode now!

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Resilience is my superpower in career setbacks.

05:33 Excitedly explored technology, then transitioned to leadership.

08:04 ServiceNow growth, leaders' impact, career development opportunity.

12:36 Overcoming disability fear to seek global role.

15:48 Microsoft launched new roles, hired 500 sellers.

19:45 Microsoft's seasonal operations and travel for planning.

20:52 Satya emphasizes growth, innovation, and global diversity.

24:06 Global role at Servicenow expanded my mindset.

29:06 Embrace mistakes, acknowledge, apologize, and improve leadership.

32:12 Intentional career development through reading and curiosity.

34:21 Encourage future leaders to enjoy the journey and develop critical cross-stakeholder partnerships.

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Timestamp Topics

00:00 Resilience is my superpower in career setbacks.

05:33 Excitedly explored technology, then transitioned to leadership.

08:04 ServiceNow growth, leaders' impact, career development opportunity.

12:36 Overcoming disability fear to seek global role.

15:48 Microsoft launched new roles, hired 500 sellers.

19:45 Microsoft's seasonal operations and travel for planning.

20:52 Satya emphasizes growth, innovation, and global diversity.

24:06 Global role at Servicenow expanded my mindset.

29:06 Embrace mistakes, acknowledge, apologize, and improve leadership.

32:12 Intentional career development through reading and curiosity.

34:21 Encourage future leaders to enjoy the journey and develop critical cross-stakeholder partnerships.

Previous Episode

Delivering Tomorrow’s Growth Today: Rhonda Henley’s Leadership Mission

GrowthQ Community, join us for an inspiring episode of the Dear Future CRO Podcast with Rhonda Henley, Vice President of America's Partner Sales at Cisco. Rhonda shares valuable insights from her remarkable career journey, discussing the importance of setting clear expectations, seeking feedback, and understanding what success looks like in a new role. She also delves into daily routines, productivity hacks, and the significance of accountability and staying true to oneself. Rhonda's candid reflections on missed opportunities and the constant pursuit of learning and growth offer powerful lessons for anyone navigating their career path. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Rhonda's experiences and wisdom. Head over to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ to catch the full episode now!
Rhonda's Bio: Rhonda Henley is the Vice President of Americas Partner Sales at Cisco, leading partners across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Her team is focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving growth through strategic partnerships. Prior to her current role, Rhonda held various leadership positions within Cisco's Global Partner & Routes to Market Sales Organization. Before joining Cisco, she worked in sales, services, and operations at AT&T and Lucent Technologies. Rhonda holds a Master of Science in Organizational Development from American University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Maryland. She is passionate about developing early-in-career talent and invests in coaching and mentoring both within Cisco and through community organizations.
Timestamp Topics

00:00 Professional admiration with a touch of restraint.

05:22 Moved to IBM, pivotal role in leadership.

09:33 Be clear on expectations; seek feedback.

10:34 Prioritize tasks, set clear expectations, and listen.

14:09 Prioritize partner and customer issues for growth.

19:39 Focus on business, not just working in it.

23:06 Expressing conviction, refusing to downplay past experiences.

23:55 Opportunities arise to learn and grow.

27:02 Sales leadership team learning from exposure and experience.

30:22 Future CRO, always choose improvement over bitterness.

Next Episode

Leadership Lessons from Tony Colon: Diversity, Instinct, and Financial Wisdom

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ! In this episode, our host and Founder of GrowthQ, Esther Ayorinde-Iyamu engages in a compelling conversation with Tony Colon, SVP for Customer Success at ServiceNow. Tony takes us through his diverse career journey from his early life in Chicago to pivotal roles at Salesforce and Cisco. He emphasizes decision-making using both data and instinct, the value of ideas from diverse perspectives, and the importance of innovation within companies. Esther and Tony discuss the significance of learning from those making high-stake decisions and listening to frontline employees. They also dive into personal experiences, including handling racially insensitive situations, the impact of their upbringings, and building a sense of community at work. From the future of AI in customer success to Tony’s desire to educate future generations on financial management, this episode is rich with insights for aspiring leaders. Tune in for an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion geared towards shaping the future for Customer Success Leaders everywhere.

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Excited for guest, Mr. Tony Colon, SVP.

03:49 Upholding family legacy, providing generational opportunities, diversity.

07:37 Proud of breaking through, connecting diverse cultures.

12:09 Creating community through shared interests and passions.

14:11 Craving connection, seeking real talk in loneliness.

18:31 Immigrant parents' struggle and financial focus.

23:01 Unintentional mentorship led to love for programming.

26:31 Shifted careers after ten years, joined Cisco.

27:45 Transitioned from Cisco to hardware, then software.

33:07 Microsoft's copilot, our digital assistant, aids productivity.

35:22 Fear of speaking up hindered career success.