Have you ever wondered how a global bank like Citibank optimizes its brand across 95 countries worldwide? Or how it infuses diversity, equity, and inclusion into its marketing strategy and product experience to effectively represent marginalized communities?

In the latest episode of the podcast, we are in conversation with Nikki Darden, whose most recent role was focused on bringing Citibank’s brand to life for their 200,000+ colleagues and driving diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout Citi’s marketing ecosystem.

Nikki shares her journey of how the personal and the professional are inextricably connected as she delivers impact for underrepresented communities across a global organization while being a force for change by standing in her truth, bringing her full self to the workplace, and consistently asking of those around her, “what can we do?”

Talking Points in this Episode:

• Nikki explains her role in optimizing Citi's brand and discusses the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion into Citi's marketing efforts and its vital importance within the walls of Citi and on behalf of the millions of customers Citi serves across the globe.
• Nikki shares her journey to a fuller realization of what brings her joy, including entrepreneurial ‘enlightenment,’ that being an intrapreneur is what she does best, and finding and owning your ‘power’ can bring true satisfaction.
• She explains how “what can we do?” can be the ignition to spark change and innovation by focusing efforts on incremental improvement that can have a powerful and positive impact.
• And more…

Are you working to live or living to work?

Finding true fulfillment in your career can seem like an elusive dream in a world of deadlines and demands. What if aligning your work with your passions held the key to unlocking unparalleled success?

In the final conversation in our first series on the changing nature of work, join us as we dive into the remarkable journey of Rosa Sabater, a trailblazing executive who dared to reshape the rules and then created a company to help other women reshape their rules and live a more fulfilling life that celebrates their greatness and provides flexibility to live fully in more corners of their lives.

Talking Points in this Episode:

• Rosa shares the “moment” when she decided to step away from a series of traditional corporate roles to reflect. create space and reimagine a more personalized way of working.
• We discuss the power of finding joy and fulfillment in work by aligning with personal passions and how Martellus, described by its Experts as “a platform that enables us, the 40 women, to work how we work best,” enables community, support, and balance.
• We hear about the practical solutions Martellus solves for - including staffing augmentation, brand strategy, customer acquisition, loyalty marketing, customer relationship management, and contact center excellence - with leaders from Fortune 500 companies chosen for their ability to accelerate time to market, share knowledge and help avoid pitfalls.
• Rosa outlines the very real challenges women have shared with her in articulating what they want and overcoming challenges in articulating one's true passion.
• And much more …

Can remote work truly foster deeper connections and exceptional leadership?

There continues to be a significant shift in how workers view their relationship with work, while at the same time, companies are making deliberate choices about post-pandemic organizational norms and culture.

As the role of remote work evolves, and we assess how to create more flexibility as our relationship with work changes, it is fitting that the next More Elephant conversation in the series on the changing nature of work is with Melissa Romo, author of "Your Resource Is Human: How Empathetic Leadership Can Help Remote Teams Rise Above." 

In our conversation, Melissa outlines unravels the secrets of empathetic leadership, unveiling a roadmap for building thriving cultures and forging genuine connections in today's remote and hybrid workplaces. Melissa’s book has been lauded by workplace and leadership experts as “the book 21st century leaders and followers have been pining for.”

Talking points in this Episode:

• Melissa discusses her experience with remote work, the emotional challenges that it created for her and how finding a lack of resources to help, she decided to write the book.
• Melissa outlines “The "Remote Leadership Wheel TM," a practical solution to assessing five emotional pitfalls and five corresponding empathetic responses to help leaders and individuals rise above the challenges of remote work.
• We discuss the return to office movement, the need for remote work to be a valid option for some, the impact of “corporate trauma” and need for connection, meaning, and belonging.
• We highlight the importance of TRUST as a foundation for effective remote leadership, the Pygmalion effect on team performance and Melissa's call for reflective evaluation of individual readiness for remote work and its benefits.

Welcome to the first episode of the More Elephant podcast, where we dive deep into inspiring topics and explore thought leadership for today's world. As we embark on this journey of meaningful conversations, we chose to start with a focus on the changing nature of work, as we reckon with the what, how, where and why of work in a post-pandemic world.

America is defined by workism,“the belief that work is not only necessary to economic production but also the centerpiece of one's identity and life's purpose.” However, what if work could be more than just a means to a paycheck? What if it could empower us to live better lives?

In the first More Elephant podcast, we are joined by Ben Brooks, who is the founder & CEO of PILOT, an award-winning employee career development software platform. Inspired by his successful CEO & executive coaching practice, Ben saw an opportunity to take the entrepreneurial leap of faith and begin to democratize executive coaching and empower employees at scale. Ben invested his life savings into founding the company whose mission is to ensure everyone “feels powerful at work.” What does it mean to feel powerful at work? How can we advocate for ourselves, prioritize our development, and navigate the unwritten rules of the workplace?

Join us for this inspiring conversation with Ben to kickstart the More Elephant podcast as he shares stories of experimentation, resilience, and the quest for impact, both in his career and in helping others achieve their goals.

PILOT was named #1 HR Tech Startup to Watch in 2020, and HR Executive Magazine named him one of the Top 100 Influencers in HR & Technology for 4 straight years. PILOT was named a Top HR Product of 2020 and DIAGEO named PILOT their Supplier of the Year in Diversity Excellence.

Talking points in this Episode:

• Ben Brooks shares his unique career journey, from climbing the corporate ladder to becoming an entrepreneur.
• Ben explains the mission of his company and falling in love with a problem: the fact that people are miserable at work and not managing their careers well
• We discuss the importance of advocating for oneself, seeking feedback, and building relationships in the context of the individual
• Ben asserts that we can powerfully command our lives by balancing work and life while building an individual configuration of what satisfaction and success look like
• …and, if you’re always hearing yes, you’re probably not advocating enough!