I Choose the Ladder

Everyone thinks they want to be a people manager until they actually have to manage people. Ask any current manager, and they will tell you that managing a team is one of the hardest things they have ever done.

But ask someone a first-time manager has managed, and they would argue that that's even harder.

So in this episode, we talk to aspiring people managers about preparing for a leadership role.

Enjoy!

In this episode, I Choose the Ladder Podcast host Watchen Nyanue shares some tips on what to do when the realization of a dream is delayed or taking longer than expected.

Hint: Getting resentful or bitter does not make the list.

In this special crossover episode, I Choose the Ladder Founder & CEO Watchen Nyanue shares tips on how to discuss race at work. As we continue to navigate tragedies that impact our entire society, Watchen shares some best practices she has seen over the years of working with some of the world's best leaders.

When it comes to leveling up professionally, the focus seems to be on leveling up financially. Still, in this episode, I Choose the Ladder Founder & CEO Watchen Nyanue shares a few other career areas you will need to level up if you plan to pursue leadership roles.

Enjoy!

In this episode, I Choose the Ladder Founder & CEO Watchen Nyanue discusses the five areas that often hold you back from being able to quickly and smoothly navigate a career change. These challenges are relatively simple to address but not always very easy. So grab your I Choose the Ladder notebook, a pen, your favorite beverage, and get ready to get to work.

In this episode you meet, Melissa Donaldson. Melissa Donaldson, a self-described business leader with a heart for human capital, is the first chief diversity officer at Wintrust and responsible for developing diversity and inclusion strategies for increasing competitive advantage while positioning Wintrust as an employer of choice and responsible corporate citizen. The heart of her practice is that advancing diversity, equity and inclusion should be business-owned and leader-led to promote shared responsibility in action.

A direct report to the CEO, Melissa established the ubiquitous “One Wintrust” masthead as a unifying guidepost. Noted accomplishments include: establishing the annual executive diversity forum assembly of top senior executives, co-designed 360°Inclusivity multicultural segment framework, launched Paired to Win hybrid mentorship-

sponsorship program targeting underrepresented leaders, regular Board of Directors engagement, and contributor to ESG reporting. Prior to joining Wintrust, Melissa led inclusion practices as a director with both Walgreens and CDW LLC, which received the Exemplary Voluntary Efforts Award from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2008. Skilled in communications, strategic planning, stakeholder management and innovative high-impact programming, Melissa is a versatile change agent who enjoys collaborating with internal and external partners to drive results.

Crain’s Chicago Business named Melissa among Top Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Executives and Most Influential Women in Commercial Banking. Chicago United selected Melissa to the esteemed 2021 Business Leaders of Color, to name a few of her accolades. Melissa is a Leadership Greater Chicago Daniel Burnham Fellow, and member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and The Links, Incorporated. A prolific

writer and speaker, she has contributed to numerous industry publications, conferences, podcasts, radio and other media outlets.

Melissa holds an MSC from Northwestern University, MSA from Central Michigan University, and a BS Wright State University Raj Soin College of Business. She has guest lectured at Northwestern University and serves on a variety of boards and councils.

Some of the things we discussed that stood out to me were:

- Following the steps that you think you are supposed to when make career choices.

- How a layoff shifted her perspective on being left behind professionally.

- Understanding your path and the ability to cheer on the success of others without envy.

Enjoy!

We have seen a few different responses to people feeling disrespected at work in the past couple of weeks.

In this episode, I Choose the Ladder Podcast Host, Watchen Nyanue, shares some context around disrespect at work and tips for both people managers and individual contributors on handling disrespect at work.

Enjoy!

In this episode you meet Elizabeth A. Campbell. Elizabeth is a +20 yr marketing veteran with a proven track record of successfully cultivating consumer insight to deliver integrated marketing programs that drive consumer demand. In September 2019 she was chosen to lead McDonald’s Cultural Engagement Team into its next evolution. Her responsibilities include managing a $30M budget to elevate McDonald’s Cultural Strategy in the areas of Music, Sport and Entertainment, amplifying McDonald’s social media presence and driving forward our Multicultural Youth marketing strategy. Elizabeth uses her cultural curiosity and her ability to partner with the McDonald’s franchisees to build cultural brand experiences that touch the consumers passion points.

Elizabeth has led some of the brands most iconic platforms to advance the brand with consumers including; McDelivery with UberEats; Dorado with J. Balvin; The Saweetie Meal; The Mariah Carey Meal; Future 22 Black and Positively Golden and the brands most recent steps in to the Metaverse through a partnership with Humberto Leon and IWG to celebrate Lunar New Year.

Prior to joining McDonald’s, Elizabeth honed her business acumen at Kraft Foods, New York in Brand Management and as an Account Executive with the Coca-Cola USA Fountain Division of The Coca-Cola Company. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from the Purdue University, Krannert School of Business and a Master of Business Administration from the Clark Atlanta University, School of Business. She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois and is a native of Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Some of the things we discussed that stood out to me were:

- The freedom that career tenure has given her

- Mistakes that young Black women are making

- How the next generation of leaders can help their mentors and sponsors help them

- Being at the same company for 18 years

- Dealing with impostor syndrome

- Being an example of what Black excellence is

- The pressures of a seat at the table as a Black woman

Enjoy!

As we launch a new season of the I Choose the Ladder Podcast, ICTL Founder & CEO shares updates on everything happening at I Choose the Ladder and some lessons from her first full year of entrepreneurship.

Shop the products mentioned in the episode

- Planner: https://bit.ly/3HVztNR

- Affirmation Cards: https://bit.ly/3i4rm6r

In this episode you meet Erika Swilley. Erika is the Vice President of Community and Social Responsibility for the Detroit Pistons. Previously she spent time in community relations for the Chicago Sky and Sky Cares Foundation and Golden State Warriors.

In her role, Swilley coordinates the philanthropic initiatives of the Pistons and their players. She also organizes events as part of numerous league wide initiatives as part of NBA Cares, as well as, has an instrumental role with player development and works closely with team sponsors and the players’ personal foundations.

Swilley was named 2007 and 2008 Palace Sports & Entertainment Community Relations Employee of the Year and has received three World Championship rings as part of overseeing community relations efforts for the WNBA Detroit Shock and Golden State Warriors. In 2009 Swilley was selected as a “Woman of Excellence” by the Michigan Chronicle, in 2010 was recognized in “Who’s Who” in Black Detroit and in 2018 was named one of Detroit’s 40 Under 40.

Swilley received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a major in communication, marketing and sociology.

Some of the things that we discussed that stood out to me were:

- Navigating Office Politics

- Compromising Your Values

- Speaking up about social justice issues

- Pivoting into sports

- Getting Unstuck

Enjoy!