In episode 158, Erik and Kerel talk with Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta, for her second time as a guest on MRP, about her new book coming out October 3rd, “Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace” and her podcast, “Brown Table Talk” with friend and co-host, Dee C. Marshall. Mita dives into the firsthand experiences she’s had with prejudice in the workplace, being rejected from many agents for her writing before recently being picked up by Wiley and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Mita also shares her intentions for talking to leaders within organizations, what it means to be a leader, and questions leaders need to be asking themselves within the workplace. She gives her perspective as to the lessons we have learned as a society as well as organizations over the pandemic and how we can use those lessons to move forward in a more diverse, inclusive and successful way for all. Mita also gives us the inside scoop on what’s in her music rotation right now and even how that really fits hand in hand with her professional career.

Timestamps

1:06: What has changed between now and when Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta, was first on MRP for episode 57

2:09: Mita shares about her upcoming book “Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace”

3:29: Mita’s firsthand experiences with the myths she covers in her books including topics of raises, money, women, and more

6:11: Mita’s history with writing five novels previously and getting rejected by many agents

6:58: The lessons Mita has learned from writing so many books and being rejected so many times

8:41: Mita talks about her podcast “Brown Table Talk” with fellow friend Dee C. Marshall, how it came to fruition, how they’ve built a community through that platform, receiving a book deal from the podcast and more

12:36: How Mita and Dee come up with topics for “Brown Table Talk” and receiving messages from the community with topics to incorporate into the show

13:53: Why Mita is intentional in talking to leaders within organizations through her writing, podcast, and content

16:39: Big lessons Mita has learned or observed from companies because of the pandemic including sense of control, work from home or the office, productivity, and more and how the workforce is changing because of it

19:54: What Mita has seen change and improve as far as DEI and leadership over the last couple of years and why companies need to pay attention and authentically understand multicultural consumers

22:12: What music is in Mita’s rotation right now

23:27: Mita’s book and where you can find it

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

Erik and Kerel recap podcast and industry highlights from the first half of 2023.

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 157, Erik and Kerel talk with Karna Crawford, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Marqeta, the world's first modern card issuing platform. Karna was born in DC, raised in Indianapolis, moved to Atlanta, and eventually found herself at Tulane University studying biomedical engineering and switching to marketing. Growing up watching her mom work as a paralegal, a steady, solid, job, she knew she wanted to do anything but that, which is why the fast paced marketing work excited her so much. She has gone on to work for JP Morgan, Coca Cola, Miller, Coors, Ford, Motor Company, Verizon, and more.

Karna shares what challenges Marqeta is currently facing, along with the major impact they’re creating in the world, why she chose to work there and why culture was such an important part of her decision. She takes us through her journey of how she figured out what she wanted to do with her life, her mentors who helped so much, helpful advice she has been given and also advice for those who are going into marketing. Karna also talks about what excites her about the future of marketing, where she draws inspiration from, and most importantly - what’s in her music rotation right now.

“Be curious and listen and learn everything that you can. Even when you've mastered something, find something else to learn, something else to be curious about, because you never know where that will take you, as well as how well it will position you for influence in whatever situation you may find yourself in.”

Timestamps

:29: Karna Crawford, shares about her fresh start as Global Chief Marketing Officer at Marqeta, what they do and the unique challenges they face

4:16: Karna talks about why she decided to go to Marqeta, why the culture highly impacted her decision, and how she asks the right questions in her interviews to get a good idea of their culture

7:27: Karna shares about her childhood days, why she changed from majoring in biomedical engineering to marketing, and how she got her first job in marketing

11:56: The importance of having a mentor alongside you for your career path and how her goals have changed over the years

17:17: Two of the best pieces of advice Karna has received

19:16: What excites Karna about the future of marketing including culture, social media, and data

21:23: Where Karna draws inspiration from and how the younger generations help with today’s marketing

23:22 Three pieces of advice for someone who’s starting their career in marketing

28:05: What songs are in Karna’s music rotation right now

30:32: How to find Karna on LinkedIn

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 156, Erik and Kerel talk with Ayanna Lott-Pollard, Executive Director at Resilient Coders, whose mission is social justice through economic empowerment through educating black and brown folks from low income communities to become software engineers. Ayanna is West Philadelphia, born and raised, just like her parents, is the oldest of 4 siblings, and graduated from the school of Communications and Theater at Temple University. From there, her career path has been nonlinear to say the least, getting opportunities to work in advertising, healthcare, government, including a stint at the White House, operations and now tech adjacent.

Ayanna talks about how her nonlinear career path came from following her heart, how life has directed her to places, organizations, and opportunities in which she deeply cares for, and why she loves learning and where she has developed her growth mindself. She also goes into the current landscape of technology, AI, automation, the importance of skills and diversity at the table, having a vision for yourself, and more.

“It's essential that these organizations, these multibillion dollar organizations and some of the smaller ones as well, that they become inclusive. And it's not just because like I said, it's an ethical, it's a moral issue, it's because we're creating technologies, we're creating opportunities, we're reinventing what this world will look like. And in order for that to be equitable, we need everybody. We need more people at the table.”

Timestamps

1:24: Ayanna Lott-Pollard, Executive Director at Resilient Coders, shares Resilient Coders’ inception, mission, and more details of what the 20 week bootcamp entails

4:34: Just like Will from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Ayanna shares that she was born and raised in West Philadelphia as well as getting into her family history, path to college and nonlinear career path

6:51: Why Ayanna’s career path has been untraditional and how life has directed her to certain places and organizations based on her life experiences

8:08: What drives Ayanna’s passion for continued learning, growing, and education for herself

9:59: Ayanna explains why skills are the new degree requirement, how automation and AI is impacting both workers and employers, and the future of tech jobs

12:23: The ethical and financial importance of decreasing the risk of discriminatory design in tech by putting diverse people in designer roles and have a seat at the table

18:11: What excites Ayanna about the future of technology and the impact Resilient Coders is creating for entire generations

20:13: The importance of Resilient Coders alumni

22:50: What inspires Ayanna to develop teams and be a transformational leader and what purpose means to her

26:02: The best piece of advice Ayanna has ever received

27:27: Ayanna’s current music rotation, including a Philly playlist, gospel, and a wide range of other music

28:26: Erik, Kerel, and Ayanna chat about and share their love for the TV show Bel Air and why it’s really important and its focus on black excellence

30:20 Where you can connect with Ayanna and find more information about Resilient Coders

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 155, Erik and Kerel talk with Karen Vega, Vice President, Audience Impact & Intelligence at Paramount Advertising, a branch of Paramount, a company that develops strategic and collaborative solutions that connect their partners to their diverse, passionate fan base. Karen was born in Colombia, migrated to the states at 13 years old and always had the dream of working in entertainment. Her mother, who was a writer, was in love with the industry and was really formative to Karen eventually working in it. She eventually went to LaSalle University and Seton Hall University to major in communications and minor in Hispanic studies. She has worked at major companies including iHeart, Billboard, FTI Consulting, Viacom, and Viacom CBS.

Karen shares about her experience as an immigrant, how she got started in communications and advertising, why she loves working with Paramount and has just passed her eight year work anniversary. She also talks about what is important to her as a working professional - networking, continuing education, mentoring, sharing the narrative of LatinX, work-life balance, and more.

“With a big company, you see so much change happen. It can be daunting for people. But I would say it has really fit me and benefited me and my personality because I like change. I see opportunity in change. And so when change happens I actually lean in. I observe, but I lean in. And I think that's been really helpful to my career and my development as a professional within Paramount.”

Timestamps

:44: Karen Vega, Vice President of Audience Impact & Intelligence at Paramount Advertising, shares where she’s working from, where she grew up, when she immigrated to the United States and her meaningful trips home

3:11: Karen talks about her experience coming to America and memories that mean a lot to her around that time

6:24: How Karen got started in her career of communications and advertising, how her mom played a major role, going to college in Philly and eventually making it back to New York City

8:54: Why Karen loves working at Paramount and how it fits her personality

11:02: Karen’s take on career growth and development and how important networking and continuing education is for a working professional

13:17: Advice Karen would give her younger self in her career

15:26: Karen shares how she advocates for LatinX representation and opportunity in the advertising space and why it’s important to shift the narrative

20:27: Karen talks about a negative personal experience she’s had with people who lost empathy for others

23:53: How Karen likes mentoring and why it’s so important for her to mentor others

26:50: Karen shares about her experience with life-balance, the boundaries she sets, and how she works with a hybrid model

30:42: What is on Karen’s music playlist right now

32:24: Where to find and connect with Karen

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 154, Erik and Kerel talk with Tenisha Griggs, VP, Head of Global Media at Terminus, a company that combines intent and web-engagement data with industry-leading b2b digital advertising capabilities to build brand awareness. Tenisha is originally from Detroit, Michigan but made her way to Atlanta with a full ride to Georgia Tech for track while studying business management and she has stayed in the city since then. Growing up as an athlete as well as her parents becoming entrepreneurs helped her build characteristics to help her in the business world today working at places such as AT&T and other telecom companies.

Tenisha shares her experience of going from a student-athlete to being competitive in the business world, strong qualities she has adopted from her hard working parents, what she loves about Atlanta, and how she pushes herself to try new things. She also talks about her seven year old son who she co-wrote a book with during the pandemic and was featured on Fox News, how important it is to make time for him, why she requires a work life balance, how she has grown in her career and personal life to where she can advocate for herself, the one main place she from which she draws inspiration, and so much more.

Timestamps

:58: Tenisha Griggs, VP, Head of Global Media at Terminus shares the experience she had recently being nominated for Advertiser of the Year at the AdExchanger Awards

2:03: Tenisha explains Terminus and what they do

3:03: Tenshia tells about her childhood, growing up in Detroit, getting a full ride to LSU and Georgia Tech, and being the middle child

3:53: The unique experience Tenisha had leaving home and being a student-athlete in college

4:55: How athletics helped Tenshia establish herself in the business world, what she learned from that experience, and how she’s had to be aware of her competitiveness

6:44: A few things she learned from her parents who were entrepreneurs and followed their dreams

8:14: Tenisha’s feelings about Detroit vs. Atlanta and why Atlanta will probably stay her home for a while

9:43: Tenshia shares her career journey going from studying business management in college, to taking an internship at Def Jam, moving to telecom sales, marketing, eventually ending up at AT&T, leaving at the merger and joining Terminus

13:11: Why Tenshia has been so unafraid to try new things, how she has utilized her transferable skills for new positions, and advocating for herself

15:43: Some of the things Tenshia loves about her role today as VP, Head of Global Media at Terminus

16:41: Tenshia shares about her seven year old son, the notes he leaves her when she’s in work meetings, the rocks they paint, and how it has been a learning experience for communication and building a relationship with her son

19:12: Tenisha talks about the book her and her son wrote together during the pandemic, one of her most proud moments, and how they were also featured on Fox News

21:14: Some things Tenisha and her son has learned as she has started working from home due to the pandemic

22:23: How Tenisha prioritizes work life balance and how she has learned to advocate for that, not just as a bonus, but as a requirement

24:19: Experiences Tenshia has had with discrimination, the lessons she’s learned and how she overcame those times

27:49: The importance of having many mentors in your life, being a mentor, and also why Tenisha no longer fears competition

31:29: Tenisha touches on where she gets inspiration from, including her faith

32:34: What is in Tenisha’s music rotation these days

33:54: How to contact Tenisha for tips, questions, life advice, whatever

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 153 live from AdMonsters PubForum Miami, Erik and Kerel talk with Chris Contreras, Chief Customer Officer at MNTN. Chris was first born American after his parents moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic. He comes from a long line of well-acclaimed family members, his father who taught himself English and practiced medicine, a mother who was an architect, and his grandmother who was the first female to run a bank in the Dominican Republic. Chris deciding between medicine and business eventually chose finance and has worked at Univision, NBC, Snap, and more Global Customer Success organizations.

Chris not only works full-time at MNTN but also has a lot of outside obligations including founding an angel fund, a mentorship program through MNTN, as well as a mentorship program in the CS sector, and mentoring VPs and SVPs. He believes that DEI is not something to be promoted as a time-based initiative, but something that is weaved into a workplace and leadership. Chris shares soft and hard skills employees need to have stepping into leadership positions, the importance of mentorship and why future leaders need to get clarity on their weaknesses to figure out a great balance for themselves, their team, and their company.

“I think communication is such a valuable component. As you move up in your career, the clarity, the succinctness of which you provide feedback, and just general guidance to a customer and internal constituent becomes even more and more important, because the time that you have with senior leaders is very limited.”

Timestamps

:33: Chris Contreras, Chief Customer Officer at MNTN, shares his career background with Univision, NBC, Spap, currently MNTN, and other startups

1:25: Chris talks about his family history, being the middle child of three boys, his family coming from the Dominican Republic, and him being a first born American

2:37: Chris shares about how he is a servant leader after being a part of a bad leadership experience, what it takes to move from junior roles to leadership roles, and how he’s carved his own path

4:55: The best advice Chris has received from his mentor, fellow servant leader, Charlie Echeverry who was the CRO for Univision Digital

6:24: An example of how Chris has seen the impact of leadership and how great teams have helped companies thrive

8:55: Chris shares the training program MNTN has for new employees who may not have ad tech experience and why it’s so important for those people to be involved in the evolution of building and growing the onboarding experience

11:30: Chris talkies about the two pieces about his leadership style and how he brings inclusivity to his companies

11:51: How Chris focuses on making sure there are opportunities for people who are behind him after he leaves his company

14:46: How Chris has navigated two important parts of his career, his ability to manage and his ability to build a pipeline behind him for others to take his role

16:44: Chris shares how leaders can allow their careers to move forward without getting boxed into a specific role

18:48: Chris’s experience with moving into leadership positions, this mistakes that were made, and how he has learned to develop employees to take over in leadership positions

21:11: Important soft and hard skills to have moving into leadership positions

21:53: Chris talks about the importance of mentorship in leadership and why people should reach out to possible mentors no matter if they think they will say yes or not

24:45: Where Chris draws inspiration from

25:21: One piece of advice for anyone who’s looking to level up into a new leadership position

27:03: What is on Chris’s music rotation these days including

27:21: Where listeners can connect with Chris and MNTN

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 152, Erik and Kerel talk with Jessica Lee-Wen, Chief Marketing Officer at Thrive FP, a company focused on investing in real estate while also doing good in the community. Jessica was first generation-born Canadian, born to her mom and dad who are both from China who met in Vancouver and had her and her brother. Her mother, a pharmacist commuting two hours everyday for work, taught her a lot about having a strong work ethic, and her father really showed her a nurturing side as he managed restaurants that her family owned. Jessica got interested in marketing after watching the movie “What Women Want” and dove into really understanding people, helping them feel like they belong and creating a community.

Jessica shares how she started the Casoro Group Education Foundation which focuses on closing the generational wealth gap and increasing diversity in the real estate industry through education, experience, and opportunities. She gives her biggest advice to people looking to get into the marketing industry and how she approaches mentoring others and cultivating relationships. Jessica touches on her experience with discrimination in the marketing world including sexism and how she overcomes that and also how she draws inspiration from stories of resilience and grit.

“I think one of the things that I always encourage is, ask questions. So much to the point where I establish, like, every time we meet, or every time we're in a meeting with other people, I'm expecting you to ask me, or ask the group, at least two or three questions, mandatory. It could be, you know, "What is that term that was used? What does that mean?" Whatever that question is. So I think as mentors, we should be encouraging and creating an environment where the mentees feel comfortable asking questions.”

Timestamps

:32: Jessica Lee-Wen, Chief Marketing Officer at Thrive FP, shares what she means by “a CMO using her powers for good” and “better homes for better lives”

1:51: What makes Thrive FP unique

2:39: Jessica tells us where she grew up, what her mother and father did, and how her experience was much different from Western cultured children and even those of Chinese culture

5:12: How Jessica’s mother and father inspired her to be who she is today and embracing Western culture

6:53: Jessica shares how the Casoro Group Education Foundation came to life over the pandemic, learning more about the inequalities in the US and being a solution to the array of problems people were and are facing

11:07: Why Jessica and the Casoro Group focuses on multifamily real estate investments, building community within them, and cultivating a real home for people that provides real life value

14:01: How Jessica got into marketing and the Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt movie that really inspired her

15:30: Jessica provides tips and ideas on how to create a more inclusive and diverse space in the marketing industry, the importance of relationships, and internships with a DEI focus

17:06: Personal experiences when Jessica has felt different and has faced discrimination, especially as a woman

19:25: What kinds of wisdom and knowledge Jessica passes on to her mentees

21:02: The types of stories and media Jessica draws inspiration from

21:44: Jessica’s advice for anyone who’s looking to enter the marketing field

22:33: What is in Jessica’s music rotation and the top three apps she uses on a daily basis for inspiration and guilty pleasures

24:23 How to connect with Jessica and the Casoro Group Education Foundation

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 151, Erik and Kerel talk with Luis Romero, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales North America at The Guardian US, the world’s leading liberal site in information and news. Luis grew up in New York City to two parents who immigrated from Ecuador. They often had various family members staying with them, in addition to his younger brother and sister, which taught him the importance of family and influenced his leadership style later in life. He has worked at companies such as NBC Universal, Univision, CATS Media, Media Nine Group and other tremendous brands and organizations leading multicultural and sales divisions.

Luis shares the work he and his colleagues are doing at The Guardian, how his experiences at previous jobs have taught him so much about business, different cultures, and the ways to market to specific people in the marketplace over various platforms. He talks about the changes that are currently being made in the marketplace as far as diversity and budgets and he gives advice for anyone who is looking to get into sales in the digital media space.

“If you're naturally curious, asking questions about anything is a great skill set to have as a salesperson. I think the better salespeople are just naturally curious. They're just going to ask questions, and not just because they have a script. Of course, you have to ask all those questions, but it's really just learning about someone's business and what makes them tick.”

Timestamps

:36: Luis Romero, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales North America at The Guardian US, shares about his upbringing in New York City with his parents immigrating from Ecuador and other various family members

6:40: How Luis was led to working at The Guardian, what they do, who they represent, and what they stand for

12:29: Luis talks about how his upbringing has formed the ways in which he thinks now in his work at The Guardian and in previous positions

15:34: Luis’ experience being a father of three, including a newborn, how he balances life and work, and how the pandemic has given him an opportunity to be more present

18:26: Luis shares his unique time working at companies like NBC Universal, Univision, Cats Media Group, Group Nine Media and leading their roles in multicultural sales

26:36: Luis’ thoughts on how the marketplace and different brands are making space and moving around budgets to incorporate different cultures in their sales and marketing strategies

31:05: Where Luis draws his inspiration from

32:12: Advice for those who are thinking about a career in sales or entering the digital media space

34:37: Luis talks about his success, how he gives a lot of credit to it all starting at home with his family

35:37: Luis’ top three apps and the wide range of music he’s listening to these days

38:22: Where to reach Luis and connect

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 150, Erik and Kerel talk with Justin Barton, SVP of Digital Strategy & Partnerships at Black Enterprise, a digital resource for black entrepreneurs, black-owned businesses, and career, tech, and money content for black people. Justin was born in Brooklyn, NY to his mother and father who were both educators in New York. He eventually went on to Hofstra University to get his BA in Business Administration and got his MBA at Long Island University. Justin has been working in the media industry for about 18 years now and his repertoire includes Viacom, iHeartMedia, MTV News, and Daily Mail.

Justin stresses the importance of companies using black owned media to reach black viewers as well as increasing the number of diversity hires in the workplace and media environment. He shares the different types of black stories they’re writing and sharing at Black Enterprise - lifestyle, local, financial, and more. Justin also talks through his career journey of climbing up the ladder from analyst to eventually SVP and what it took to get him there including skills, networking and experience.

“Don't stay somewhere where you're not appreciated, don't stay somewhere where your opinions aren't taken seriously”

Timestamps

:37: Justin Barton, SVP of Digital Strategy & Partnerships at Black Enterprise shares his experience growing up in New York and where he got his education

1:35: Justin talks about his mother and father, both originally from Brooklyn and educators

3:16: Justin shares his experience at his first job out of college in Finance and then eventually moving to media at Disney ABC television

4:37: What is going on at Black Enterprise, including how the pandemic affected the company, and how they’ve had a meteoric rise in the past 3 years

7:12: Justin talks about how his career has been affected by him being a black man and one of the things that has kept him in the right place at the right time with the right people

10:19: What the “board list” at Black Enterprise is, how it has helped black people get onto executive boards and C-suite positions, and their commitment to get people of color in more of those types of roles

13:35: The effort and commitment to push more advertising dollars to diverse people and agencies and educating others on black media in general

16:12: Justin talks about the importance of getting black content out to people from a trusted source

17:35: What it takes to have a great career in media

22:20: How networking is so important to developing professional and personal relationships in your industry, especially media specific

24:09: Justin shares his top 3 apps that help keep him informed and entertained

26:16: How to connect with Justin

Follow Us:

Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U

Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG

Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK

Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc