The Leadership Dance

Sue Siegel is one of those people who makes a lasting impact. From her pioneering work at Affymetrix during the early days of the Human Genome Project, to her visionary influence in driving innovation at GE and other companies, Sue has left an indelible mark. In this episode of The Leadership Dance, Sue Siegel, Board Director and former CEO & VC, shares her journey from feeling like a misfit growing up in the Philippines and Puerto Rico to becoming one of the most influential leaders in the Life Sciences industry. She discusses her transition from molecular biology to business and the invaluable lessons she learned about leadership while contributing to the development of human genome sequencing. She shares how to balance innovation with rigorous discipline and reflects on what it means to break barriers in the C-suite and corporate boardrooms. She also talks about what authenticity means to her, how she developed her leadership style, and shares her "Ways of Working" with the 5 key principles she always follows to build high-performing teams. Lastly, Sue offers career and life advice for future generations, emphasizing the importance of walking through doors when they open and focusing on the impact you can make for society.

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💡 Key Takeaways:

AI is shifting the healthcare industry towards curative therapies vs. just treatment of chronic diseases.

Building an innovation culture starts with building high-performing teams.

Navigating ambiguity while trusting yourself is essential for effective leadership.

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Learn more about Sue here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-siegel/

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#Leadership #LifeSciences #Genomics #Innovation #Diversity #Mentorship #HighPerformingTeams #AuthenticLeadership #TheLeadershipDance

In Episode 7 of The Leadership Dance podcast, host Alissa Hsu Lynch speaks with Chief Marketer and Communicator Arielle Patrick, of Ariel Investments. They discuss Arielle's upbringing in a culturally rich environment, her path from Princeton to public relations, and the importance of staying curious and finding joy in the career journey. Arielle shares insights on how her background in musical theater and dance has influenced her leadership style, the significance of diversity in corporate America, and her advocacy for diverse artists through her personal art collection.

Throughout the conversation, they discuss the need for effective communication and storytelling in driving change within organizations and in creating a fulfilling career. She highlights the impact of diversity on consumer choices, particularly among younger generations, and shares her personal passion for serving on nonprofit boards, including American Ballet Theatre and Yellowstone National Parks Foundation. Arielle also emphasizes the significance of building authentic relationships vs. networking and talks about the confidence required as a young leader to reach the C-suite. As a new mom, she shares her tips for prioritizing family and career and discusses the importance of self-care and learning how to say no. Finally, she reflects on the need to trust yourself as your career develops and facing whatever challenges life brings you.

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💡Key Takeaways:

Success doesn't come from a rigid plan but from curiosity, flexibility, and taking joy in the process.

Dance teaches valuable leadership lessons such as poise and presence.

When it comes to networking, stay curious and strip people down to their humanity—you'll find surprising connections.

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Connect with Arielle and learn more:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akpatrick1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariellepatrick/

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#TheLeadershipDance #AriellePatrick #Leadership #Communications #Diversity #WorkingMoms #Ballet #Art #Curiosity #AuthenticLeadership

In this episode of The Leadership Dance podcast, host Alissa Hsu Lynch sits down with Carla Vernón, CEO of The Honest Company and one of the only Afro-Latine CEOs of a public company. During their conversation, Carla shares her journey from a rambunctious dancer raised in Buffalo, New York, to corporate CEO, touching on the importance of representation, dealing with failure, and what she's learned from her dance background. Carla also reveals her alter ego as "Your Sister in the Corner Office" (SITCO), reflecting on her role as a first-time CEO and sharing advice for the next generation of leaders. She discusses the mission of The Honest Company, the value of building a diverse board of directors, and how she relies on a network of mentors, family, and friends to keep her moving forward.

You won't want to miss this fun episode, chock-full of wisdom from a true trailblazer!

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💡Key Takeaways:

Resilience comes from navigating spaces where you're not the norm—it's a skill and a superpower.

Being a dancer involves a lot of rejection and failure. Learning to embrace failure, rather than fearing it, is crucial for growth, whether in dance or leadership.

Success isn't linear—careers are often choreographed through improvisation, experimentation, and adaptation.

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To learn more about Carla and The Honest Company:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlainspired/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlainspired/

Website: www.honest.com

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#TheHonestCompany #WomenInLeadership #WomenCEOs #BoardDiversity #CareerAdvice #OnceADancerAlwaysADancer #BreakingBarriers

In Episode 5 of The Leadership Dance, Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), shares his journey from growing up as an Asian American in a predominantly white community to becoming a leader in advocating for the safety, belonging, and prosperity of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. We dive into the value of cultural identity and what he learned about business, leadership, and family during his 20 years of living in Hong Kong. He reveals why he decided to become an activist after moving back to the United States, discussing the rise of anti-Asian hate in America. Norman draws parallels between business and the sport he loves, basketball, and he talks about how knowing yourself and what you're good at can lead to a fulfilling life and career.

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💡Key Takeaways:

Find environments that appreciate your background and contributions; don't be afraid to change the room if it doesn't fit you.

Safety, belonging, and prosperity aren't just ideals—they're the foundation of thriving communities.

In both basketball and life, you learn a lot about someone through how they show up, collaborate, and handle challenges.

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Learn more about Norman and TAAF here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/normanlschen/

Twitter: https://x.com/taaforg?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taaforg/

Website: http://taaf.org

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#TheLeadershipDance #AAPILeadership #AdvocacyInAction #CulturalIdentity #TAAF

In Episode 4, Alissa is joined by celebrated ballerina Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre (ABT), America's National Ballet Company. "Discovered" by Mikhail Barishnikov at the age of 18, Susan shares stories from her 22-year career as an international ballet star and discusses the moves she made following her retirement from her stage career that propelled her to become a pioneering leader in the ballet world. She delves into the struggles she faced in overcoming imposter syndrome, the importance of diversity and inclusivity in dance, and the lessons she learned about courage, risk-taking, and patience throughout her career. Susan also talks about why she's excited about what's next for ABT and how experience has taught her how to manage challenges with love, joy, and grace.

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💡Key Takeaways:

Susan's vision as Artistic Director at ABT includes celebrating its history while also pushing for innovation and inclusivity.

Dancers learn to develop the grit and courage to overcome fear.

Leadership means making decisions with love, transparency, and the long game in mind.

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Learn more about Susan and ABT here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanjaffeofficial/

Support American Ballet Theatre: www.abt.org

Alonzo King LINES Ballet Blog: https://blog.linesballet.org/

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#TheLeadershipDance #ABT #Ballet #Dance #DiversityInTheArts #WomeninLeadership #Podcast

In this episode of The Leadership Dance, Alissa chats with Shweta Maniar, Global Director of Healthcare & Life Sciences at Google Cloud. In addition to being a health tech executive at Google, Shweta is a board director, a dancer, a mom, AND an almond farmer. We explore her cultural upbringing as a second-generation South Asian American, her journey from healthcare to technology, and the challenges of navigating corporate environments as a woman of color. Shweta also shares how embracing her uniqueness got her to where she is today and tips on how she's able to get a good night's sleep.

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💡Key Takeaways:

Don't be afraid to take an unconventional path; it might lead you exactly where you're meant to be.

Dance instills discipline, patience, and storytelling skills that are valuable in personal and professional life.

Embrace your uniqueness. What makes you different is your greatest advantage.

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Learn more about Shweta here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shwetasingh01/

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#EmbraceYourUniqueness #WomenInTech #GoogleCloud #TheLeadershipDance

In Episode 2 of The Leadership Dance, Alissa is joined by Jocelyn Mangan, CEO and Founder of illumyn Impact and illumyn. Jocelyn is a visionary leader dedicated to solving board diversity who started two social impact ventures focused on accelerating diversity in corporate boardrooms. The conversation explores how her curiosity led her to the tech industry with companies including OpenTable and Ticketmaster, the challenges she faced as a woman in leadership, and the importance of networking and mentorship. Jocelyn discusses her passion for bridging the gap between underrepresented executives and board opportunities and how each of us can identify our superpowers. She also shares insights on how she balances being an entrepreneur and mom while staying focused on her dreams.

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💡Key Takeaways:

Better leadership starts at the top, but it requires diverse voices to truly innovate and drive change.

Mentorship and support are essential for career growth, and building relationships is key to accessing board opportunities.

Stay intentional—focus on what feels authentic and fun, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.

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Learn more about Jocelyn here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynmangan/

Website: www.illumynimpact.org

Other:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-boardroom-view-7074778308969721856/

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#BoardDiversity #Leadership #Networking #TheLeadershipDance

In this first episode of The Leadership Dance, Alissa shares her unconventional journey from a professional modern dancer to a successful business executive and board director. She discusses the challenges she faced in transitioning careers, the importance of embracing one's unique background, and how to leverage personal experiences for professional growth. Alissa reveals what she learned from dance, including performing under pressure, agility, resilience, and the ability to create your own path to success. Listen to the end, where she shares three key strategies for success that anyone can follow to choreograph your own leadership dance.

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💡Key Takeaways:

Embrace what makes you different: turn your unique strengths into superpowers.

Life is like a dance and requires you to keep moving with agility and adaptability.

Success is not one-size-fits-all: reimagine your own success.

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Learn more about Alissa here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahlynch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahladventures/

Website: https://www.alissahsulynch.com/

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#TheLeadershipDance #OnceaDancerAlwaysaDancer #ChoreographYourCareer