Episode #2 Krista Bourne: A Life by Choice, not by Chance

Krista Bourne is a global keynote speaker, advisor, and former Fortune 20 executive.

After an unstable childhood and leaving college after only one semester, her journey took a remarkable turn when she found an opportunity that became a 25-year career at Verizon. Starting in the mailroom in upstate New York, Krista progressed through key roles in Service, Sales, and Operations. In time, she became the Chief Operating Officer for the Verizon Consumer Group, the first Black woman to hold the position. Leading a distributed team of 30,000 employees, she served over 110 million customers, delivered more than $500M in cost optimization and contributed to an annual revenue exceeding $100 billion.

Join us as Krista shares with Lanisa D. Farnsworth how she overcame impostor syndrome, unlocked her leadership potential, and learned to embrace the power of simple choices to achieve the extraordinary.

Key Takeaways
- Imposter syndrome is situational and can be managed by compartmentalizing it as a specific challenge rather than allowing it to define one's entire identity.
- Continuous learning and a learner's mindset are essential for personal and professional growth, especially in the face of emerging trends like AI and entrepreneurship.
- Chasing impact, not titles, is a key to success in one's career, as it allows for a focus on meaningful contributions rather than superficial achievements. Imposter syndrome is situational and can be managed through disciplined approaches.
- Balancing career and family requires effective calendar management, prioritization, and communication.
- Finding purpose in a career involves being part of something bigger than oneself and making positive change.
- Personal and professional branding are both important for career advancement and thought leadership.
- Being authentic and making intentional choices are key to building the life you want.
- Introverts can navigate professional settings by approaching it like a workout, pushing themselves to engage and interact.
- The bravest thing Krista did was taking on a profit and loss role without a financial or business background, demonstrating the power of learning and adaptability.

Chapters
00:00 The Importance of Continuous Learning
36:40 Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Career-Family Balance
40:55 Purpose, Branding, and Authenticity in Career Development
45:19 The Power of Choices and Intentional Living
53:53 Challenges and Triumphs of an Introverted Professional