Known for his drive and charisma, Guy Griggs has spent two decades climbing to the top of some of the world’s most powerful media companies. When this episode was recorded, he was Vice President of National Sales at The New York Times . Today, he is SVP of Advertising Sales & Partnerships at CNN. 

But behind all of Guy’s well deserved career success, is a hidden pressure. Shaped by a childhood that demanded excellence, and by navigating the industry as a Black gay man, Guy has always carried the sense that he had something to prove. 

In this episode, Guy opens up about how those early experiences fueled his drive and built his resilience — and how he is learning to trade blind ambition for a motivating force bigger than himself, one rooted in faith, family, and a definition of success that finally feels like his own.

We talk about:

• How early childhood experiences left him feeling he had everything to prove, and why that pressure became both a driver and a burden

• The identity piece — what it has meant to succeed in media as a Black gay man, and the resilience it demanded

• The double-edged sword of people-pleasing, and how it fueled both career advancement and burnout

• His networking philosophy — why he sees every room as infinite possibility, and how genuine connection has driven his career

• The role of faith and integrity in his leadership, and why doing the right thing when no one is watching is his ultimate red line

• Redefining failure from disappointment and shame into resilience and learning, staying positive through downturns, and how he bounced back from the toughest feedback of his career

A deeply personal conversation about ambition, identity and belonging, at the highest level of corporate America.

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Stay Connected with Alanna (Host) & Guy (Guest):

• Alanna Lynch Instagram: @meliorfuturi
• Alanna Lynch Linkedin: alannalynch
• (FAIL)UP Instagram : @failupbymeliorfuturi
• Guy Griggs Instagram: @guygriggs
• Guy Grigg's Linkedin: guygriggs

If this conversation left you wanting to think bigger, feel braver, and influence change in your own career, head to melior-futuri.com to explore our executive and leadership coaching programs, available internationally.

If this conversation left you wanting to think bigger, feel braver, and influence change in your own organization, head to melior-futuri.com to explore our executive and leadership coaching programs, available internationally.

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