Episode 244: The Art of Prioritization and Asking Questions as a CEO with Maricella Herrera Avila, CEO of Ellevate Network

Maricella Herrera Avila grew up in Mexico working in male-dominated fields. While she didn’t immediately know that leadership was her path, she eventually found herself as CEO of Ellevate Network, the largest community for women at work focused on creating a culture of equity and inclusion in business.  In this episode, Maricella tells us about her path to becoming a CEO, starting with her previous career in banking. After she realized this field wasn’t for her, she set out on a path of curiosity and discovery that led her to where she is today. Learn how she turned a love for puzzles and how things fit together into her current role as CEO. Maricella had to switch her definition of success from what she learned from her upbringing. Instead, she focuses on learning along the way and both giving and taking when she’s networking. She’s always asking questions and listening to what people have to say. We learned a lot from Maricella’s journey and know you will too. Visit https://www.gobeyondbarriers.com where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Maricella.   Highlights:  [02:31] Maricella’s path to CEO [07:41] Gaining clarity about her definition of success [13:45] Dealing with criticism and having a support system [17:56] Overcoming limiting beliefs [22:57] Prioritizing to get things done and taking ownership at work [28:04] Asking for help and networking [31:48] Embracing curiosity [33:17] Continuing to learn and staying ahead of the game [37:48] Lighting round questions   Quotes: “If you can help one or two or a few people, that to me becomes success.” – Maricella Herrera Avila “If we could get people to understand their role and take ownership of that, then the whole work and prioritization becomes a little easier.” – Maricella Herrera Avila “A lot of what I’ve been doing lately is just listening.” – Maricella Herrera Avila   Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you?  “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and “Thanks for the Feedback” by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?  “Those who don’t know their history are bound to repeat it.” What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?  Authentic What is one change you've implanted that made your life better?  Becoming a runner. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?  “Just a Girl” by No Doubt   About Maricella Herrera Avila: Maricella Herrera Avila is the CEO of Ellevate Network, the largest community for women+ at work focused on creating a culture of equity and inclusion in business. She oversees overall business operations, growth and strategy, and works closely with Ellevate's Chapter Leaders, Business Partners, and Champions to further Ellevate's impact. As a strategy executive with 15 years of experience building and scaling teams, brands and businesses, Maricella has led the creation of impactful programming such as the annual Mobilize Women Summit, which reaches thousands of professionals across the globe and is supported by some of the world’s leading companies. Maricella is also the host of the Ellevate Podcast, Conversations with Women Changing the Face of Business. Through her 10-year career at Ellevate Network, she has managed the business through an acquisition, a re-brand, and a full operational/workforce transformation. Prior to Ellevate, Maricella held several positions in real estate banking at Banamex, Citi’s Mexican subsidiary, where she worked on providing credit funding for low income housing development projects in the north of Mexico. Maricella received a BA in Financial Management from ITESM in Mexico and an MBA from Columbia Business School.   Links: Website: https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/ LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maricellaherreraa/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mherreraavila  Podcast: https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/podcasts/