Roar with Lakecia Gunter

In this powerful episode of ROAR, I sit down with the inspiring Merline Saintil—a tech trailblazer and Fortune 500 board director—to explore how breaking barriers, authentic networking, and redefining leadership can transform careers. We dive deep into her journey from a software engineer overcoming early language barriers to becoming a respected leader in the tech industry. Merline shares intimate insights about how mentorship, perseverance, and a commitment to service have shaped her career and allowed her to create groundbreaking initiatives like Black Women on Boards.Our conversation also shines a light on the importance of sharing our stories and building non-overlapping networks that empower us to seize new opportunities. I was especially moved by Merline’s candid advice on being intentional with your time and taking risks in your career, as well as her work on the Onboard documentary—a film that highlights the challenges and triumphs of Black women in leadership. Tune in to discover actionable strategies for fostering diversity and inclusion in your own organization and learn how you too can ROAR with reflection, opportunity, action, and relationships.In This Episode You Will Learn:[00:59] The Essence of ROAR: Discover what ROAR stands for and why every one of us carries a hidden power waiting to be unleashed.[01:28] Redefining Leadership: Learn how Merline’s unique approach to leadership and authentic networking has opened doors in the tech industry.[03:48] From Engineer to Board Director: Hear Merline’s transformative journey from a software engineer to leading global product teams and serving on Fortune 500 boards.[08:31] The Power of Networking: Understand how building non-overlapping networks and authentic relationships can propel your career.[15:34] Founding Black Women on Boards: Get insights into the mission behind Black Women on Boards and how it’s reshaping diversity in corporate America.[22:45] The Onboard Documentary: Learn about the vision for the Onboard documentary and its role in spotlighting the challenges faced by Black women in leadership.[32:00] Final Leadership Advice: Absorb Merline’s empowering advice on risk-taking, seizing opportunities, and understanding that “pressure is a privilege.”I hope you find as much inspiration in this conversation as I did. Let’s keep breaking barriers and lifting each other as we climb—together we can ROAR!Let's ConnectInstagramLinkedInConnect with Merline SaintilInstagramWebsiteLinkedIn

Roar is back, everyone! I'm Lakecia Gunter and I unveil our upcoming season centered on the transformative power of connection. Let's explore how building authentic relationships and harnessing innovative technologies like AI can unlock doors to unprecedented opportunities in our rapidly evolving world. Join me as I prepare to engage with industry leaders, innovators, and trailblazers who are reshaping success, and get ready to embark on a journey where connection is the key to unlocking your greatest potential. New episodes drop every other Tuesday—subscribe and connect with me on LinkedIn, X or Instagram to share your thoughts and join the conversation!

Only 37% of professionals have a mentor. This statistic is surprising, as mentorship is the secret behind so many successful people. Modern mentoring and the power of mentorship can help you achieve your goals—both personally and professionally. We should all be seeking to develop our skills, continually learning new things, and challenging ourselves on a regular basis, which takes a good degree of devotion and commitment. In a mentor, you have someone who can help guide, advise, and teach you through a problem or towards a goal. My guest today is Lani Phillips, vice president of global partner solutions, US Channel Sales for Microsoft. She has over 20 years of experience and inclusive leadership and transformation management in the tech industry and has developed a reputation for being a transformational and inclusive leader who is committed to empowering people. Her passion for inspiring, transforming and growing leaders lead her to launch Modern Mentoring with Lani Phillips, a digital mentoring series created with the intention of sharing wisdom globally and making it accessible for anyone looking to thrive in corporate spaces.In this episode, you’ll hear Lani’s personal experience with mentorship, how it has contributed greatly to her success and why she believes so deeply in the practice.  She shares how she took to heart her mother’s prioritization of education, why it’s important not to limit our network, and how she recently launched her own digital show centered on modern mentoring, What You Will Learn:The power of mentorship from a young age (09:59)Deliberate career planning is one key to success (13:57)Before looking for a mentor, define your needs (18:27)Mentorships should have a defined start and end date (22:19)The importance of valuing every member on your team (29:15)A sponsor should also be an advocate (32:39)Connect with Lani Phillips:Modern Mentoring with Lani PhillipsLinkedInLet’s connect!LinkedInTwitterInstagram

If you’ve ever thought about becoming an entrepreneur, the uncertainty of success can often be the biggest obstacle holding you back. Fear and doubt are inevitable, but allowing them to dictate your professional life could mean missing out on fulfilling your dreams. Sometimes it takes recognizing your potential through the eyes of others to really provide the confidence boost you need to take the entrepreneurial leap. My guest today is Monica Enand, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zapproved, a cloud-based software provider for corporate legal departments. Their goal is to make it easier and more economical for businesses to navigate the increasing rules and regulations that clients face. Her many professional accolades include the 2018 Sam Blackman Award for Civic Engagement, the 2016 TiE Entrepreneur of the Year award, and the 2010 Portland Business Journal Orchid Award for achievement for women in business. In this episode, you’ll hear how Monica pursued her dream of building a successful software business. She shares her inspiring journey from employee to CEO, and how she overcame the fears and doubts she had about transitioning from a financially comfortable and successful tech role into starting her business. What You Will Learn:Recognizing your potential for the first time (5:09)The thrill when entrepreneurial lightning strikes (10:03)What successful entrepreneurs know about timing (14:36)Flipping the switch from idea to action (17:04)Fostering values of inclusivity within your business (24:59)Developing a mountain climbers mindset (30:33)Connect with Monica Enand:LinkedInLet’s connect!LinkedInTwitterInstagram

When we meet obstacles in our lives and careers, how do we move forward? After such a tumultuous year, we’ve learned to expect the unexpected with greater frequency. This has allowed us ample opportunities to test our ability to recover from adversity, and it’s built up our resilience to weather and learn from the challenges we face. My guest today is Kim Stevenson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of NetApp’s Foundational Data Services Business Unit where she’s helping to lead the charge into a new technology era. Kim most recently served as a senior executive with Lenovo as Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Data Center Group. She’s also a valued member of my personal board of advisors.In this episode, Kim shares the lessons she’s learned about overcoming adversity throughout her distinguished career. It’s taught her that avoiding change is never the best way forward, and the real wisdom is in the learning process. You’ll hear how she’s transformed adversity into her superpower, and why she believes diversity is so important in shaping a successful business. What You Will Learn:Drawing the line between kindness and being firm (6:06)Learning how to use your voice (11:09)Choosing to face the fire when things get hot (15:42)The simple key to overcoming adversity (21:41)Cultivating the muscle of resilience and recovery (33:25)Calling on the power of reflection (36:43)An outline for building a diverse team (43:50)Connect with Kim Stevenson:TwitterLinkedInLet’s connect!LinkedInTwitterInstagram

Success is something that builds up over time, making early influences fundamental. Having a strong support system of people who champion you and unbridled access to recreational and educational opportunities plant the seeds for strong, smart, and bold leaders.My guests today are Cyreena Boston Ashby, CEO of Girls Inc. in the Pacific Northwest, and Amaya Gustave, an alumna of the program and currently a student at Pitzer College in California. At Girls, Inc., Cyreena offers a variety of programs and after-school activities for youth, from 8 up to age 18. Amaya is a bright young woman on the rise who has come up through the organization since the age of eight. Both of these women share a capacity for inner strength, resilience, and a desire to make their voices heard. Through their mutual involvement in Girls, Inc., they’ve demonstrated how dedicated service to your community can become a pathway to your calling. Through effective mentorship, young people are able to use their voices fearlessly and courageously, building confidence and self-acceptance from the inside out.In this episode, we’ll talk about the early influences that led to a successful, service-focused career, and how that calling helped transform and enrich the life of one particular young woman. You’ll hear about the wide variety of programs that have influenced countless young people growing up with the support of Girls, Inc., and how access, encouragement, and early exposure are the foundational keys to future leadership.What You Will Learn:Early foundations for a legacy of service (3:45)How an iconic institution helped amplify a Roar (9:16)Carving out a career path through advocacy (13:55)Educating and preparing young women for lucrative careers (22:04)Key qualities that build resilience (32:32)The lasting power of being championed (34:12)Taking personal time to invest in young people (45:32)Connect with Cyreena Boston Ashby:LinkedInConnect with Amaya Gustave:LinkedInLet’s connect!LinkedInTwitterInstagram