Control Your Voice: Overcoming Workplace Challenges with Poise and Power (with Wendy Delmolino)

Are you struggling to make your voice heard in the professional world? Learning to control and effectively use your voice can dramatically shift how you're perceived and influence your career trajectory. But where do you start? Our guest Wendy Demolino, a seasoned tech executive with a wealth of experience from Oracle to Microsoft, takes us through her path from her initial struggles with communication control to becoming a commanding presence. Wendy candidly discusses her early days, being labeled as polarizing, "the kid," and a "rookie," and how she navigated these challenges to manage her crying, overcome workplace labels, and master the art of effective networking. Tune in to this episode to discover: ✔️ A practical strategy for managing emotional responses like crying and maintaining professionalism, even when frustration levels are high. ✔️ Insights into navigating workplace labels, stereotypes, and overcoming negative perceptions to reshape your professional image. ✔️ The critical importance of being in the right places for career opportunities and how to ensure you're invited to the 'party.' ✔️ Guidance on when to take the lead as a spokesperson and when it's strategic to let others speak, balancing visibility and inclusivity. ✔️ Tips for casual networking that can lead to finding a mentor or sponsor, crucial for career advancement.   ✅ About Wendy Delmolino:  Currently retired after a 30-year career in the Washington area Technology industry, Wendy most recently held the position of Microsoft Global Customer Success Leader for the Americas working to accelerate customers’ digital transformations through adoption of Microsoft Cloud. Prior to Microsoft, Wendy spent over 28 years at Oracle Corporation in a number of roles across both commercial and government businesses, including Vice President Customer Success leading teams responsible for approximately half of Oracle's North American Cloud Technology customers. Throughout her career, Wendy has been an advocate of diversity in the technology industry including representing Oracle on the United States House of Representatives Women's Conference Panel, as an Executive Sponsor in Microsoft Accessibility Resource Groups and mentoring those in under-represented communities. In 2018, Wendy began mentoring through Girls in Technology (GIT), a Women in Technology Washington, D.C. program and is currently the Mentor Liaison for the Mentor-Protégé Committee. Based out of the Washington, D.C. metro area, Wendy’s passion is her family including her husband Dominic, her children Peter and Francesca, and beloved Labrador retriever Fenway. Wendy enjoys relaxing hikes in the Washington area, trips to Walt Disney World in Florida and participating in runDisney races. ✅ Follow Wendy Delmolino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendydelmolino/   ✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company:  contact [email protected]     ✅ Follow Ivna Curi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/     ✅ Other Episodes You’ll Like Feeling Emotional? 9 Tips for Navigating Emotional Conversations with Confidence 10 Negotiation Tactics to Make You More Assertive And Have More Influence 5 Strategies For Making Yourself Heard At Work From Rambling To Articulate: How To Communicate Your Ideas Concisely and Persuasively, Even On The Spot 7 Ways To Make Yourself Heard In Meetings The Power of a Thick Skin: 10 Ways Assertive  Communication Helps You Handle Difficult Workplace Situations How To Express Your Emotions And Feelings To Persuade Others How To Not Come Across As Aggressive When You're Outspoken How To Take Criticism Without Getting Defensive (an assertiveness technique with examples) Smashing Stereotypes: How To Confront 5 Common Biased Assumptions About Women at Work Why Women Are Blamed For Team Failures And Don’t Get Credit For Team Successes How Can Women Close The Gender Gap Even If They Suffer Gender Bias Top 10 Daily Challenges Women Face At Work   ✅ Free Resources FREE Training & presentation on How To Be Assertive Without Being Rude, Aggressive, or Offensive: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/assertivenotrude  Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ From Rambling To Articulate PDF Guide: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/articulate Podcast episode lists by theme: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/speakyourmindunapologeticallytopics Women in Tech Leaders Podcast Interviews: https://assertiveway.com/womenintechpodcastguests/ Podcast Summaries & More Email Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter Our Linkedin Blog Articles:  https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6863880009879306240/   TEDx Talk How To Speak Up Safely When It’s Psychologically Unsafe: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/safespeak 10 Day free Assertive And Liked Challenge: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/beassertiveandliked Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Other Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Podcast page: https://assertiveway.com/podcast-speak-your-mind-unapologetically/   ✅ Work With Us Workshops: http://assertiveway.com/workshops   Break The Silence: https://assertiveway.com/communicationculturetransformation/ Services: https://assertiveway.com/offerings Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected] Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2 Website: https://assertiveway.com   ✅ Support The Podcast Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915 Ask me your question for the next episode: https://www.speakpipe.com/speakyourmindquestion