Luanne Westerling has 30 years of facilitation, training, leading, and teaching experience, both in higher education and the financial services sector. She returned to the corporate environment at MAPFRE Insurance, Webster, Massachusetts, as a Talent Development Program Manager, where she was responsible for leadership development and training programs, outreach to colleges and universities for talent acquisition, and serving as the Director of the Women’s Leadership Network.

Recently, she has returned to higher education at Harvard Medical School, Human Resources, as a Talent and Development Program Manager, where she designs and conducts leadership-based programming for staff and oversees a mentorship program for mid-career staff members to assist them in their professional development journey.

Prior to these positions, she served as the Associate Dean for Business at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts. In this role, she oversaw a faculty of 50 and taught in the disciplines of leadership, management, communication, and professional development. She also developed and led a student leadership development program aimed at developing students' professional skills to provide them with a personal advantage in the job search process and workplace. Finally, she is also a facilitator for the MBTI (Myers Briggs Personality Assessment) and enjoys analyzing personality profiles as part of the examination of the importance of emotional intelligence in all of our interpersonal relationships.

Episode Highlights:

• The highs and lows of her career. (1:53)
• What’s the worst that can happen to you? (4:43)
• The importance of having mentors. (7:23)
• The importance of having multiple mentors. (9:58)
• The importance of diversity in networking. (14:10)
• Every day I learn something new. (16:17)
• The uncomfortable feeling of failure. (18:29)
• How do we increase our self-awareness to increase our emotional intelligence? (20:38)
• How to get feedback from mentors. (22:09)

Key Takeaway:

"Remember, the fear of rejection or failure is natural, but it shouldn't paralyze you. Approach each opportunity with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a determination to embrace the unknown. Even if you encounter setbacks or face rejection, view them as stepping stones rather than roadblocks. Each "no" brings you closer to a "yes" and propels you forward on your journey to personal and professional fulfillment."

Resources:

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