LISTEN TO THE LATEST SHE'S SO SUITE PODCAST
IN THIS EPISODE KRISTI AND SUNAIAN DISCUSS:
Visibility in Leadership Matters: The phrase "You can't be what you can't see" underscores the need for visible role models in senior leadership roles, especially for women and underrepresented groups.
Passion for Mentorship: Being a mentor and a visible role model is crucial for nurturing the next generation of leaders, emphasizing the importance of creating pathways and support systems.
Resilience and Hard Work: Learning values such as grit and perseverance from one's family can be foundational in building a successful career, even when there aren't direct role models in high-level roles.
Adaptability and Authenticity: While adapting to different environments may be necessary initially, it's important not to lose one's authenticity. True confidence comes from embracing one’s identity.
Diversity Drives Greatness: Embracing diversity within organizations fosters creativity and innovation, which in turn can drive an organization toward greatness.
Engage Customers at All Levels: Engagement with top customers, even at the executive level, helps build company culture and leads to happier employees and customers.
Balance and Prioritization: Balancing professional responsibilities with personal life requires "ruthless prioritization" and support systems, particularly from one's manager and life partner.
Career as a Journey: Viewing one’s career as a journey rather than a destination helps in appreciating personal experiences and relationships, rather than solely focusing on titles or positions.
Be a Multiplier: Focus on amplifying the strengths of others and building community connections. Leadership is about helping others grow and succeed.
Support Women in STEM: Encouraging STEM education for young girls and creating support systems within workplaces can help bridge the gap between graduating from prestigious institutions and reaching C-suite roles.
Sponsored by: ClientSuccess and WednesdayWomen
Produced by: Manali Bhat
Listen to the She's So Suite Podcast:
Podcast Episode Overview:
Welcome to the She's So Suite Podcast where we dive deep into the journeys of remarkable leaders shaping the future of business. In this episode, we sit down with Suni Lobo, Chief People Officer at Gong, to explore her incredible path from an aspiring musician to an influential C-level executive.
Join us as Suni shares her insights on the importance of visibility in leadership, the challenges of navigating cultural transitions, and the power of authentic connections. From her early career in the male-dominated banking industry in Australia to her impactful role at Cisco and now at Gong, Suni's story is a testament to resilience, diversity, and the passion for mentoring the next generation of leaders.
Discover how Suni and her colleagues support initiatives like Wednesday Women to amplify the profiles of executive women and create inclusive workplaces. Plus, gain valuable advice on balancing professional and personal priorities, fostering a sense of belonging, and creating environments where everyone can thrive.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will empower you to lead with authenticity and build true connections in both your professional and personal life.
About Sunaina Lobo:
Suni is an authentic, values and purpose-driven leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in cultivating high-performing teams spanning multiple industries including financial services, fintech, supply chain, and technology. This experience gives her a unique lens that has enabled her to successfully enrich organizational culture, while also advancing business strategy. Suni’s background and experience, coupled with a relentless focus on DE&I, and passion for fostering a sense of belonging and internal community, will help us accelerate our journey to become the undisputed Revenue Intelligence leader and build on our incredible culture.
Over the last 20+ years, Suni has served in a variety of leadership positions at public and private companies such as Cisco, ANZ Bank, SVB Financial Group, Navis, and Marqeta. In these roles, she has led several key business and people initiatives that have successfully helped those companies develop strong talent pipelines, fuel growth, and drive business transformation. Throughout her career, she has lived and worked in eight countries (Australia & New Zealand, China, and Singapore to name a few!) and has extensive experience building and leading global teams.
Suni has a Bachelors and Masters in Accounting, an Advanced Masters in Human Resources and Organizational Design, and is a certified coach. Deeply committed to education, she sponsors a girl’s school in India. Closer to home, Suni is an executive contributor and guest lecturer at both the Orfalea College of Business (CalPoly) and UC Berkeley. She has also served on a variety of non-profit boards and is an accomplished speaker at business and HR conferences, podcaster and published author. In her free time, Suni enjoys hiking, music and theater, traveling with her family and practicing yoga.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Preview & Intros
4:01 - Creating "raving fans" among customers
6:07 - Happy employees equals happy customers
9:50 - Suni's love for music growing up
13:20 - Aspirations to become the Chief People Officer
18:17 - Overcoming challenges as an outsider
22:57 - Losing self-authenticity
24:30 - Embracing diversity as a part of company culture
29:55 - Mentoring and investing in other's careers
33:30 - Promoting STEM education for girls locally and globally
35:13 - Encouraging women's workforce retention
37:00 - Supporting women to focus on family & career opportunities
41:07 - Ruthless prioritization is essential
45:00 - Career is a journey, not just a destination
47:00 - Be a multiplier
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