Maria Medrano

Enrollment update for the upcoming Pradeepa Leadership Development School - Jan 2025 Cohort I am thrilled to share that Ali-Zain R., a talented product management professional and phenomenal leader, has secured a place at the upcoming Pradeepa Leadership Development School. I have known Ali for a few years now, and one thing that stands out about him is his openness and willingness to learn and consider new insights and perspectives. Ali sets a great role model for us and me in how much he cares about serving his parents. He has created and continues to nurture and cultivate some beautiful relationships over the course of his life. Ali, in his own words on why he is joining the school: “I am choosing the Pradeepa Leadership Development School because it offers the comprehensive training and support I need to regain my focus, drive, and confidence. After months of unemployment, I have lost my sense of purpose and motivation. I am confident that Pradeepa's expertise and guidance will help me rediscover my passion and rekindle my leadership abilities. Having previously collaborated with Pradeepa, I have witnessed firsthand her exceptional ability to foster a supportive and empowering learning environment. Her empathetic nature and deep understanding of leadership principles make her an ideal mentor/coach for individuals seeking to unlock their full potential. I am eager to re-engage with her and benefit from her personalized guidance. By participating in the school, I want to: - Regain my confidence and motivation. - Develop a clear career path and achieve my goals. - Strengthen my leadership skills and inspire others. - Reconnect with my passion and purpose. I am excited to join a community of like-minded individuals and learn from experienced leaders. I believe that the Pradeepa Leadership Development School will provide me with the tools and support I need to overcome my current challenges and achieve my full potential.” Congratulations, Ali! I tremendously respect you and am so proud of your desire to grow personally and professionally. I can't wait to see you succeed tremendously in your career and life! The school's purpose is not just professional growth but also personal development. It's about becoming the best version of yourself, both in your career and life. I am deeply committed to supporting you every step of the way. This school is for you if you want a transformative experience that can elevate your professional and personal lives. I invite you to schedule a conversation to see if it is the right fit for you. There are only a few spots left for Cohort 3. #leadershipdevelopment #school #careergrowth #studentenrollment #celebrationtime

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Feeling the burn(out)? You're not alone. Discover practical strategies for managing burnout, tailored for Latino gay executives. What would it mean for you to lead in a way that feels authentic, powerful, and grounded in your true self? LMK!

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Lean In Latinas released a new report today, The State of Latinas in Corporate America. An insightful powerful read. There is work to be done. 💪 Here are my takeaways: ▪ Underrepresentation and Promotion Barriers: Latinas make up just under 5% of entry-level employees and only 1% of C-suite executives in corporate America. Promotion rates are lower for Latinas, with only 74 Latinas promoted to manager for every 100 men. ▪ Impact of Stereotypes and Lack of Sponsorship: Stereotypes and a lack of sponsorship hinder Latinas' career advancement. They are less likely to have their work highlighted or to benefit from sponsorship actions such as promotion recommendations or public praise. ▪ Latinas' Ambition and Corporate Opportunity: Despite these challenges, Latinas are highly ambitious, with 44% prioritizing career growth and 71% interested in senior leadership. Companies have a significant opportunity to nurture and support this fast-growing talent pool. Links in post below. 👇

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Being ‘intentional’ in what we do. When I’m asked about my views of how to be successful in the corporate world,how to grow as a leader,how to grow as a woman-leader, how to grow as a queer-leader, I’m often conflicted. I realize that the conflict comes from the dialogue inside my head on ‘what is the correct answer that they are looking for, from me’? Wait, I do have a genuine answer, but, this answer does not look different, doesn’t feel to fit in or alter when the words ‘queer’, ‘woman’ are thrown in the question to me. And so, would the answer that I’m going to give to my audience feel very generic to them? Well, the good news is, I just end my giving my genuine answer only, always, after this whole conversation inside my head.But I must tell you, this little chat inside my head happens all the time. I don’t know about being ‘successful’,but,yes,I do take a lot of pride in adding ‘value’, creating ‘high impact’ overall on the people and the teams,business that I work with.The one thing that’s always worked for me, is being ‘intentional’ is anything that we put our ‘effort’ in.Because being intentional means that you will only do things that will add the value that you intent to add. In the business sense, be it a metric, problem solving for a business or a people issue,seeing your action contribute to a cultural transformation, see it translate into a behavioural change in a person - basically always ending at the ‘desired outcome’. I know that’s a lot of words :) So let me now just give you the formula, ay? In summary, my formula to your perceived success is - Being ‘intentional’ (starting point) always working with the ‘desired outcome’ in mind (ending point - visualize it) = you achieve the desired outcome. Ahem, but don’t just sit on our ass, put in the effort (work), yeah!  ;) I know that these are the same principles of coaching, but, I personally think that we need to use simpler words like ‘intentions’ even in the workspace to simply understand what we mean to ‘coach’.We are not robots, are we? (at least not yet). So, use human language in the workspace too? Don’t be shy.  Also, I asked AI to create an image for me that described ‘being intentional’ - this is what it gave me hahaha! Love it!

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🌟 Creating a Personalized Career Advancement Plan: Empowering Black Women to Thrive 🌟 Advancing your career requires a strategic and personalized approach. For Black women, it’s essential to set clear goals, identify growth opportunities, and develop a roadmap for success. Here are key steps to create your career advancement plan: 1️⃣ Set Clear Goals: Define what success looks like for you. Whether it’s a promotion, a new skill, or a leadership role, having clear, specific goals will guide your journey. 🏆 2️⃣ Identify Growth Opportunities: Look for opportunities within your organization and industry. This can include new projects, roles, or continuing education. Stay proactive in seeking these chances to grow. 📈 3️⃣ Develop a Roadmap: Outline a step-by-step plan to achieve your goals. Break down your long-term objectives into manageable milestones. This will help you stay focused and motivated. 🗺️ 4️⃣ Seek Mentorship and Support: Connect with mentors and sponsors who can offer guidance, support, and advocacy. Their insights and encouragement are invaluable to your career development. 🤝 5️⃣ Continuously Evaluate and Adapt: Regularly review your progress and be flexible in adjusting your plan. Stay open to feedback and new opportunities that align with your career aspirations. 🔄 By following these steps, Black women can create a personalized plan that empowers them to achieve their career goals and thrive in their chosen fields. Let’s support and uplift each other on this journey to success! 🌟✨ ATTENTION ALL BLACK WOMEN: Subscribe to our website () to receive more tips and resources to support your career journey.  #CareerSuccess #BlackWomenLead #Mentorship #SkillDevelopment #SkillDevelopment #WorkplaceResilience #ProfessionalGrowth #SSWOC #SisterhoodSocietyForWomenOfColor

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The article says that they are incorporating DEI across the company instead of having it isolated in one department for better integration throughout the organization. While I do think DEI practices need to be integrated, I also think that there needs to be a central point that is coordinating and monitoring the integration and its effectiveness. #betterbizculture https://lnkd.in/gaaKbT2X

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As a working mom in tech, I'm constantly juggling deadlines, childcare schedules, and the ever-present question: am I doing enough🥺? But lately, a new concern has joined the mix: bias in AI. Reading Caroline Criado Perez's "Invisible Women" opened my eyes to the different ways societal biases can infiltrate even the most cutting-edge technology. The book highlights how data, often collected from a male-centric perspective, can perpetuate gender inequality. This resonates deeply as we develop AI like Generative AI and ChatGPT – are we unknowingly building a future where these biases are baked in? Here's why this matters: 📈Flawed data leads to flawed results. AI trained on imbalanced datasets can amplify existing biases, potentially impacting everything from loan approvals to healthcare diagnoses. Imagine a world where an AI assistant prioritizes male candidates for leadership roles, simply because the data reflects a historical norm. 🦹‍♀️The "invisibility" of women's needs. Just like the book describes, AI systems might not be programmed to consider women's specific needs. Think car safety features optimized for male body types, or voice assistants that struggle to understand female voices. 🦾A missed opportunity for innovation. By excluding women's perspectives, we're limiting the potential of AI. A diverse set of voices leads to more robust solutions that benefit everyone. So, what can we do? ✅Demand transparency in AI development. Understanding how data is collected and analyzed is crucial for identifying and mitigating bias. ✅Challenge the status quo. Question assumptions and actively seek diverse perspectives when developing and using AI tools. ✅Support initiatives promoting fairness in AI. Organizations like Women in AI are paving the way for a more inclusive future. The fight for gender equality extends beyond boardrooms and political offices. It's a fight for the future we're building with AI. Let's work together to ensure this technology empowers everyone, not just the privileged few. #GenderBias #AI #WomenInTech #GenerativeAI #ChatGPT #Equality https://lnkd.in/gH99cuPQ

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