Senior Manager Strategy & Transformation in the Financial Services | Strategic Leadership Coach | Speaker | Mentor | Leader, passionate about people and continuous organizational improvement | 2x LinkedIn Top Voice

Global Senior Manager with 15+ years' banking experience in areas of Enterprise Risk Management, Governance, Strategic Transformation Projects, and Change Management with a heavy focus on Executive Leadership Reporting. Demonstrated ability to cultivate strong relationships, influence others, and lead high performing teams that advance global priorities. 

Committed to continuous organization improvement, enhancing customer experience and delivering solutions to support strategic financial and business decision-making. 

As a persuasive communicator fluent in English and Spanish, I effectively engage with clients, regulators, stakeholders, management, and staff at all levels. My diverse background includes extensive experience in ERM frameworks, risk culture programs, control assessments, audits, capital structure optimization, and statistical modelling for risk management matters. Leader with a proven track record of leading large-scale projects, implementing change management strategies, and delivering cost savings through efficient project management methodologies.

Core competences include:
•Enterprise Risk Management •Governance & Compliance •Operational Risk •Internal Audit • Executive Leadership Reporting & Analytics •Project Management •Change Management •Data Risk •Model Risk •Strategic Risk •Coaching & Talent Development •SAS/SPSS/DWH •SharePoint & Power Apps •Power BI/Python/R •Copilot •Agile/ Waterfall •JIRA/Confluence •Six Sigma/Kaizen •Protiviti

Diana Lasso

Fear isn’t the enemy. 
Staying stuck is!

Comfort zones feel safe.
But they also keep us small.

You want more:
➟ Impact
➟ Fulfillment
➟ Confidence

Yet fear whispers: What if you fail?
Instead, ask: What if you don’t?

Every breakthrough starts with discomfort.
Every success story begins with a risk.

As Nelson Mandela said, 
"Courage is not the absence of fear, 
but the triumph over it."

You don’t need to take a giant leap.
Just one step forward.

P.S. What’s one change that helped you grow?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? DM me.
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Visual: theopeninvite🙏

What makes someone a Top Performer?
 → It’s not a title
 → It’s not a one-time win
 → It’s who you are, every single day!

In a company with 90,000 employees across 55 countries, 
standing out is hard.

→ The pressure is real.
→ The expectations are high.
→ And some days feel heavier than others.

But I’m here to tell you something important:
It is possible!

Yesterday, I felt deeply humbled and grateful
to receive the Best of the Best award
in the Top Individual Performance category.

Thank you to my Senior Leadership Team,
my team, my mentors, my mentees,
my LinkedIn community, and to you reading this.
This recognition belongs to all of you!

Thank you for the space, the trust, and
the support to live my purpose and 
show up as the best version of myself.

Leadership is a shared journey, and
I’m grateful to walk it with you.

Here are my 3 secrets:

1- Clarity of purpose:
 → Know exactly why you do what you do.
 → Turn that “why” into daily, intentional actions.

2- Commitment to growth:
 → Invite feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable.
 → See every challenge as a chance to evolve.

3: Consistency with heart:
 → Show up fully. especially on the hard days.
 → Deliver not only results but trust.

As Aristotle said,
"Excellence is not an act, it is a habit." 

Be the person who gets things done.
You already have what it takes!

P.S. What’s your go-to strategy to perform at your best?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Happy to support your journey
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Good luck is a myth.
A story we tell ourselves.
A comforting tale that makes success look effortless.

But here’s the truth:
The master has failed more times
than the beginner has even tried.

This isn’t about luck.
 ↳ It’s resilience.
 ↳ It’s persistence.
 ↳ It’s showing up, again and again.

Think of Thomas Edison.
When asked about his thousands of failed attempts
before inventing the light bulb, he said:
“I have not failed.
 I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Success is a collection of failures.
 
Failures that:
 ↳ Teach
 ↳ Shape leaders
 ↳ Build character

Leaders aren’t born.
They are forged through experiences,
especially the painful ones.

Mastery evolves every time you show up.
 ↳ Showing up builds resilience.
 ↳ Showing up strengthens your effort.
 ↳ Showing up reinforces your choice to grow.

So, the next time you see someone succeed, remember:
It wasn’t good luck.
It was good lessons learned.

The road to mastery is built on failures,
each one a stepping stone to something greater.

Your story is proof of your resilience. Own it!

P.S. What small win are you proud of today?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Visual: strengthvisuals 🙏

Sometimes all you need is charisma
(and one moment taught me exactly why).

Five years ago, I walked into a meeting
already feeling rushed.

Too many tasks.
Too many tabs open in my mind.
Too many versions of me trying to keep it together.

I sat down, pretending to be fine.
Inside, I was overloaded.

Then a colleague looked at me
and gave me a simple, open, genuine smile.
I still remember it like it was yesterday.

We’ve all met someone like that.
Someone whose presence feels warm.
Someone who makes you feel good
before a single word is spoken.

In that moment, something shifted.
My shoulders relaxed.
My breath slowed.
I felt seen.

No words.
Just presence.
And the entire room felt different.

That moment taught me something powerful:
Charisma begins before you speak.
It’s the emotional message you send
When your inner world feels steady.

Charisma is not a performance.
It’s a practice.

Charisma is about:
→ Feeling aligned with yourself.
→ Connecting with warmth and intention.
→ Leaving people emotionally better.

If you want to lead well,
You must work on your presence.

When we train our presence, we:
→ Build trust faster.
→ Strengthen connection.
→ Create safer, warmer spaces at work.

Here are 5 simple ways to train your charisma every day:
→ Ground your energy before you enter a room.
→ Show warmth in small, genuine ways.
→ Keep your posture open and steady.
→ Listen fully, without rushing the moment.
→ Aim for people to feel lighter after talking to you.

As Brené Brown says,
“Connection is why we’re here.”

Charisma grows when you feel calm inside.
It expands when you lead with warmth.
And it becomes unforgettable
When your presence helps others breathe easier.

P.S. What’s one small action you'll practice today to grow your charisma?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Your team needs a leader, not just a boss.
The difference changes everything.

Bad Leaders:
→ Focus on blame
→ Criticize in public
→ Avoid responsibility

Good Leaders:
→ Praise in public
→ Focus on solutions
→ Take responsibility

As Simon Sinek said,
"Bad leaders care about who's right, and 
Good leaders care about what's right."

Leadership is not about power. 
It's about empowering others!

Do the right thing, always. 
Be the leader you wish you had.

P.S. What's one quality you admire in a great leader?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Anyone can lead when things are easy.
But the real measure of a leader?
How you treat people when things fall apart.

Kindness is often misunderstood.

It’s not:
 → Saying yes to everything.
 → Pretending everything is fine.
 → Avoiding the hard conversations.

Kindness is how you show up when it matters most.

→ It’s courage to make the right call.
→ It’s respect, especially when emotions run high.
→ It's clarity, even when the truth is uncomfortable.

As Brené Brown said, 
“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”

Kindness costs nothing.
But its impact?
↳ Huge

Lead with heart and let that be your legacy.

P.S. What’s your go-to strategy to lead with kindness?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership

Visual: Justin Wright🙏

Your next chapter starts with one simple step:
Understanding the one you just finished.

Most people rush into planning 2026:
→ New goals
→ New dreams
→ New intentions

But here’s the truth:
You can’t design your future 
If you don’t understand your present.

→ We forget our wins.
→ We magnify the hard moments.
→ We overlook the small things that made us feel alive.

As Stephen Covey said,
“Begin with the end in mind.”
And that starts by knowing where you’re standing today.

Here are 5 Tips to Create Intentional Goals for 2026:

1. Revisit your year:
✓ Review your calendar to remember what actually happened.
✓ Write down the top 3 moments that defined your year (good or bad)

2. Track the moments that made you happier:
✓ Identify where you felt most alive (places, people, activities)
✓ Highlight 3 things you want to feel more often next year.

3. Write down what worked, and what didn’t:
✓ Capture 3 wins you want to repeat in 2026.
✓ Capture 3 things you’re ready to leave behind.

4. Capture the lessons that shaped you:
✓ Write the 3 biggest lessons this year taught you.
✓ Turn each lesson into one simple action for 2026.

5. Notice what is changing around you:
✓ Acknowledge shifting priorities (family, health, values)
✓ Set one goal that honors the reality of where you are now.

2026 isn’t just another year.
It’s an invitation to create a life with clarity, intention, and truth.

And when you're ready, use the SMART method:

 S —  Specific: Clear and concrete.
 M — Measurable: With a number you can track.
 A —  Achievable: Realistic for your life today.
 R —  Relevant: Connected to your values and priorities.
 T —  Time-bound: With a deadline that creates momentum.

SMART makes your goals:
→ Real
→ Visible
→ Actionable

And here’s the best part:
When you gain clarity, your confidence returns.
When you choose with intention, your energy rises.
And when you design your year with truth, 
Your life begins to feel like it’s finally yours again.

Step into 2026 with clarity. Lead it with purpose.

P.S. What’s one insight from 2025 that will guide your goals for 2026?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership

Your resume opens the door.
Your Power Skills decide if you stay in the room.

The game has changed.

Today, everyone has:
↳ Talent
↳ Credentials
↳ Experience

So, what makes you different
In a global, fast-moving world?

Your judgment.

Maybe you’ve felt it too,
you deliver, you show up, you care…
and still, growth feels out of reach.

Your next promotion isn’t about time in the company.
↳ It’s about how you interpret information,
↳ anticipate what’s coming,
↳ and make decisions with a human touch.

And the data is clear:
LinkedIn: Power Skills drive 89% of promotions.
McKinsey: Strong judgment improves decisions 3.8x.
IBM: Critical thinking and adaptability are CEOs’ top 3 priorities.
WEF: Cognitive flexibility is the #1 differentiator for 2030.
PwC: 72% of executives value judgment over technical expertise.

AI can give you all the data you want.
But your Power Skills
will define your future.

That’s why I created the 5-step MINDS Formula
to help you stand out in rooms where decisions are made.

M — Map:
→ Name the real problem in one sentence.
→ Identify the three elements that shape the outcome.

I — Investigate:
→ Look for the pattern behind the data.
→ Ask what’s missing, not just what’s shown.

N — Notice:
→ Picture the best and worst scenario.
→ Identify who will feel each choice.

D — Design:
→ Create two or three real options.
→ Test a small step before a big decision.

S — Sense:
→ Combine data, intuition, and ethics.
→ Choose what you can explain calmly a year from now.

As Albert Einstein said:
“Not everything that counts can be counted.” 

Leadership starts when you trust your own decisions.
Own your growth.
Own your judgment.
Own the leader you’re becoming.

P.S. Which step of the MINDS Formula speaks to you today?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Use my 5-step MINDS formula to help you stand out by DL

Now that you’re back in person,
You feel more tired when you get home.

You are not alone
This has a name: Neurofatigue.

When your brain moves from a controlled environment
to noise, movement, conversations, fluorescent lights,
and constant social evaluation,
Its energy drains faster.

Deloitte found it in 2024:
↳ Emotional exhaustion rises by 52%

You’re not losing capacity.
You’re navigating overexposure.

But you can protect your energy.
You can also train your brain to adapt.

Here are 5 Simple Anchors to Stay Strong During In-Person Work:

1. Manage your brain’s load early:
↳ Simple mornings create stronger days.
➟ Pick one clear priority first.
➟ Delay non-urgent chats until after your focus block.

2. Give yourself small pauses:
↳ Tiny resets work wonders.
➟ Take a quiet 3-minute pause between tasks.
➟ Stand and walk every hour to release tension.

3. Use your social energy wisely:
↳ Connection fuels you. 
➟ Choose two meaningful conversations to invest in.
➟ Step away when everything feels too intense.

4. Protect the space where you think:
↳ Your attention is gold.
➟ Review emails in set time blocks.
➟ Turn off notifications during deep work.

5. Take care of your body:
↳ Physical comfort boosts mental clarity.
➟ Keep water at your desk and sip often.
➟ Add small stretches during the day to release tension.

As Maya Angelou said,
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

You may not shape every moment in the office.
But you can shape how you care for your energy.

You grow stronger when you honor your rhythm.
You gain clarity when you support your mind.
You protect your presence when you lead yourself first.

P.S. Which anchor will you practice today?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? DM me.
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Your work opens the door.
Your evidence keeps you in the room.

The competition isn’t the real challenge.
The lack of documentation is.

In a world where excellence is the baseline, everyone brings:
 ↳ Skill
 ↳ Ambition
 ↳ Performance

So, what truly sets you apart
in a fast-moving, global environment?
Your visibility.

Maybe you’ve felt it too…
 ↳ you deliver, you show up, you exceed expectations
and still, your growth moves slower than your impact.

Your next promotion isn’t about effort.
 ↳ It’s about what you can prove,
 ↳ how clearly you show your value,
 ↳ and the story your achievements tell for you.

Here’s the truth:
What isn’t documented gets lost.
What you capture becomes career capital.

That’s why I created the 7-step EVIDENT Formula
to help you make your results impossible to ignore.

E — Extract:
 → Capture the real outcome you created.
 → Name the problem you solved in one sentence.

V — Verify:
 → Collect numbers, emails, and indicators that prove impact.
 → Anchor your narrative in real data.

I — Illustrate:
 → Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
 → Make your contribution unmistakable.

D — Document:
 → Keep a monthly log of actions, results, and insights.
 → Build a timeline of measurable growth.

E — Elevate:
 → Share wins with intention in meetings and updates.
 → Visibility with substance, not ego.

N — Normalize:
 → Make evidence a habit, not an exception.
 → Review it before interviews, evaluations, or negotiations.

T — Tell:
 → Turn your data into a compelling story.
 → Show how your impact moves the business forward.

As Seneca said:
 “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Your achievements deserve a record.
Your career deserves visibility.
Your future deserves to be EVIDENT.

Leadership grows when your impact is seen.

P.S. Which step of the EVIDENT Formula speaks to you today?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

7-step EVIDENT formula to help you enhance your results

What my niece taught me about delegation 
(it transformed my team’s productivity since)

Last weekend, I decided to teach my 5-year-old niece
how to make the bed. 

Normally, it takes me just a few minutes. 
But she was excited to help, so I couldn’t say no. 

I showed her how to pull up the sheets, 
smooth out the blanket and arrange the pillows. 

She struggled a bit ... tugging the blanket unevenly
and getting the pillows all mixed up. 

We had to redo a few steps, and 
it ended up taking much longer than usual. 

In the end, it took nearly 20 minutes. 
But by the time we were done, 
she had learned something new 
and something to brag to her brother about!

Delegation is not just about offloading tasks.

Delegation is about:
→ Empowering others to learn and grow. 
→ Fostering a culture of capability and independence. 
→ Leveraging diverse strengths to achieve greater results.

When we invest our time in training and coaching others, we: 
→ Cultivate trust.
→ Build a stronger team.
→ Encourage innovation. 

As John Maxwell says,
“Leaders become great, not because of their power, 
but because of their ability to empower others.”

Delegation is an investment 
in someone else’s growth and confidence. 
Invest in your people today!

P.S. What’s one small responsibility you could delegate today to help someone grow?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

We all have days when you feel on top of the world. 
The next day, it’s hard to get out of the bed. 
But let’s be honest: motivation doesn’t last.

Here’s why you shouldn’t rely on it:
→ It’s Unpredictable: Motivation varies daily 
→ It Can Fade: Excitement diminishes over time
→ It Lacks Structure: No plan for sustained progress 

That’s where discipline comes in.

Discipline is like a muscle:
→ Provide Consistency: Ensures daily commitment 
→ Builds Strong Habits: Habits drive results 
→ Keeps You Accountable: Maintain focus on goals

As Aristotle said,
“We become what we repeatedly do.” 

So, the next time you rely on motivation, 
Remember: it’s your discipline that will carry you through.

In the end, Discipline is doing what needs to be done, 
even when you don’t want to.

P.S. What habit are you strengthening this week?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Visual: strengthvisuals 🙏

People love the finish line.
Few see the grit it took to get there.

Because success isn’t built on luck.
It’s built on resilience, focus, and 
tiny steps that no one applauds.

For years, you might’ve believed:
↳ “Once everything aligns, I’ll move forward.”
↳ “If I had more time, I’d do better.”
↳ “When things calm down, I’ll start.”

Those beliefs once protected you.
Now, they hold you back.

Many high performers professionals lose momentum because:
❌ They wait for perfect conditions.
❌ They let setbacks define their pace.
❌ They forget that progress requires endurance, not ease.

Here’s the truth:
You don’t need a smoother road.
You need a stronger mindset.

Here are 5 Ways to Stay Strong When Growth Feels Slow:

1- Start before you’re ready:
↳ Courage grows through movement.
➟ One imperfect step beats endless planning.

2- Treat challenges as training:
↳ Pressure shapes character.
➟ Every hard moment prepares you for the next.

3- Focus on what you can control:
↳ Chaos is constant.
➟ Your focus is your anchor.

4- Protect your recovery:
↳ Your brain needs oxygen to think.
➟ Resilience depends on renewal.

5- Keep your “why” close:
↳ When you know your why, you can handle any how.
➟ One priority. One outcome. Real progress.

As Angela Duckworth said,
“Our potential is one thing. 
What we do with it is quite another.”

Don’t chase perfection. Build persistence.
Rome wasn’t built in a day
and neither is your growth.
You already have what it takes.
Trust your process, the results will follow.

P.S. Which step speaks to you the most?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

The moment you choose yourself…
your energy begins to return.

But burnout rarely starts with a big moment.
It starts with the tiny ones you ignore:

The moment you push through the headache.
The moment you answer one more email at 10 PM.
The moment you whisper, “I’ll rest later.”

And suddenly…
Later never comes.

According to Gallup,
1 in 5 professionals is experiencing burnout right now.

Not because they lack talent.
But because high-performing professionals tend to overgive.
Instead of reducing their load, they carry more.
And what begins as dedication slowly becomes depletion.

Burnout is a silent disease.

Maybe you’ve been there:
➟ You deliver
➟ You support
➟ You show up

And still, your body struggles.

Not because you lack discipline.
But because you stopped listening to yourself.

That’s why I created the 7-step RENEWAL Formula
to bring you back to the leader you are:

R — Reduce strain:
➟ Ask for clarity on deadlines.
➟ Cut one commitment that drains you.

E — Ease your nervous system:
➟ Practice 3–5 breathing twice a day.
➟ Take short pauses to reset your mind.

N — Nurture connections:
➟ Share pressure points early.
➟ Reach out to someone supportive weekly.

E — Establish daily limits:
➟ Protect recovery windows.
➟ Set a hard stop for the workday.

W — Withdraw from noise:
➟ Silence notifications before sleep.
➟ Reduce evening screen exposure.

A — Adjust your workload:
➟ Clarify what truly needs you.
➟ Redistribute tasks with your leader.

L — Live your core values:
➟ Write your top 5 values.
➟ Choose actions that honor them.

As Maya Angelou said:
“Nothing will work unless you do.”

Sustainable leadership begins the moment 
You choose your health as part of your success.

Honor your energy.
Honor your health.
Honor the life you’re building.

P.S. Which step of the RENEWAL Formula speaks to you today?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Use my 7-step RENEWAL formula to bring you back by DL

Do you feel your team could achieve more?
The secret lies in investing in your people.

Last week, we celebrated the graduation of 
our HOLA Mentorship Program 2025.
What a journey it's been!

Leading this program has been a true honor.
Seeing 270 Mentors and Mentees 
grow has been truly inspiring.

A huge THANK YOU to our Mentors and Mentees
for believing in our team's growth. 
Your dedication and commitment make us stronger every day.

Special thanks to our allies in Mexico Adda Nelly Lopez Gallegos, Emmanuel Serrano Loza, Edgar Ricardo Araujo Alcántara and our HOLA Canadian team Ellis Mendez (MSc, MBA, PMP®, CSM®, CSPO®, ITIL®), Federico Yu, 
Andrea Alonso-Kuri and Pablo Cuevas. 
We couldn’t have done this without you.
Thank you for your collaboration and support.

Why invest in your team?

→ Growth
↳ Investing in your team fuels their personal 
and professional growth.
A growing team is an evolving team.

→ Retention
↳ People stay where they feel valued and developed.
Retention isn’t just about pay; it’s about purpose.

→ Innovation
↳ A well mentored team is an innovative team.
They bring fresh ideas and solutions to the table.

As John Quincy Adams said,
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, 
learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

Your team’s growth reflects your leadership.

P.S. What’s your favorite strategy to help your team grow?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership

If you only measured three things this week,
you’d transform your entire career.

Anyone can look busy.
But the real measure of a strategic leader?
What you choose to track.

Because productivity is often misunderstood.

It’s not:
 → Checking off tasks.
 → Going from meeting to meeting.
 → Replying to every email the moment it appears.

Productivity is how you direct your energy with intention.
 → It’s moving one strategic goal forward.
 → It’s solving the problem that actually matters.
 → It’s strengthening the relationships that elevate your influence.

For years, many professionals believed:
 ↳ “If I finish everything on my list, I’m performing.”
 ↳ “If I stay busy, I’m adding value.”
 ↳ “If I join every meeting, I’m leading.”

Those beliefs once helped you survive.
Now, they limit your impact.

Here’s the truth:
You don’t rise by doing more.
You rise by measuring what matters.

Here are the 3 metrics that can elevate your leadership:

1- Value (Impact Today):
What problem did you truly solve?
Real value comes from outcomes, not effort.

2- Progress (% Implementation):
How much did you move your quarterly goal?
One needle moved is worth more than tasks completed.

3- Relationship (Influence & Alignment):
Who did you align, support, or strengthen this week?
Leadership grows through trust, not titles.

As Peter Drucker said,
“What gets measured gets managed.”

 ↳ Lead with clarity.
 ↳ Measure with intention.
 ↳ And let your metrics tell the story your calendar never will.

P.S. Which of these 3 indicators is your favorite?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership

Big goals don’t fail from lack of talent.
They fail from a lack of focus.

You don’t need more time.
You need fewer distractions.

The hard part isn’t setting the goal.
It’s protecting it.

Every ping, every scroll, every “just 5 minutes” 
chips away at the future you said you wanted.

Distractions aren’t harmless.
They’re expensive.
And they often wear the mask of productivity.

Answering one more email.
Rewriting the plan instead of executing it.
Saying “yes” to things that don’t move you forward.

Here’s the truth:
If everything matters, nothing does.

When you protect your goal:
➟ You move with intention
➟ You reclaim your energy
➟ You make progress faster

As James Clear said:
“You don’t rise to the level of your goals. 
You fall to the level of your systems.”

So, build systems that honour your focus.
And stop negotiating with your distractions.

P.S. What’s one small habit that helps you stay focused each day?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ DM me for coaching, and speaking
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership

Visual: VisualsbyMelodi🙏

You can ask for a raise all year…
and still walk out with nothing.

Because compensation isn’t about effort.
It’s about value, demonstrated with clarity.

For years, you believed:
↳ “If I show how hard I work, they’ll see it.”
↳ “If I’ve been here long enough, I deserve more.”
↳ “If others earn more, I should match them.”

Those beliefs once helped you survive.
Now, they’re hurting your strategy.

Many high performers fail in negotiations because:
❌ They negotiate from efforts, not impact.
❌ They compare themselves to others and create friction.
❌ They speak from emotion instead of measurable results.

But here’s the truth:
You don’t need more justification.
You need more evidence.

Here are 5 ways to negotiate your salary like a Strategic Leader:

1 — Know your impact before you ask:
↳ Confidence comes from data.
➟ List your top wins and estimate your results.

2 — Speak in outcomes:
↳ Effort is invisible. Results are undeniable.
➟ Turn your work into numbers, savings, or improvements.

3 — Build a simple business case:
↳ A raise is an investment, not a favor.
➟ Show how your contributions strengthen the future of the team.

4 — Think in total compensation:
↳ Growth has many forms.
➟ Explore bonuses, stock, certifications, or development programs.

5 — Choose your moment wisely:
↳ Timing gives you leverage.
➟ Ask after a win, a success, or a visible achievement.

As Peter Drucker said,
“What gets measured gets managed,
and what gets measured gets rewarded.”

You don’t earn a raise with hours.
You earn it with impact.
Visible. Measurable. Irrefutable.
And it all begins with one step: own your value.

P.S. Which of these steps will you apply in your next negotiation?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

You can work hard all day…
and still feel like you didn’t move anything forward.

Because productivity isn’t about doing more.
It’s about directing your mind with intention.

For years, you believed:
↳ “If I keep multitasking, I’ll get ahead.”
↳ “Jumping between tasks means I’m fast.”
↳ “Being busy means I’m productive.”

Those beliefs once helped you survive.
Now, they’re draining your clarity.

Many high performers lose impact because:
❌ They overload their brain with constant switching.
❌ They stay in reaction mode all day.
❌ They confuse activity with progress.

But here’s the truth:
You don’t need more speed.
You need more focus.

Here are 5 ways to work smart when your mind feels overloaded:

1- Choose one task at a time:
↳ Your brain performs better with one target.
➟ Single task. Full presence.

2- Cut distraction triggers:
↳ Noise kills clarity.
➟ Fewer tabs. Fewer apps. Fewer pings.

3- Protect your deep work:
↳ Focus is a boundary.
➟ Block time. Close doors. Own your attention.

4- Reset your mind often:
↳ Your brain needs oxygen to think.
➟ Step away. Take breaks. Breathe.

5- Pick your “one win” for the day:
↳ Impact comes from direction, not volume.
➟ One priority. One outcome. Real progress.

As Cal Newport says,
“Focus is the new superpower.”

You can’t multiply your brain.
But you can multiply your impact when you protect your attention.

P.S. Which habit will you reset today?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

What my high school nuns taught me about managing energy 
(It transformed my leadership style and my team's effectiveness)

At high school, I was juggling basketball, volleyball, and homework, often feeling drained by the end of the day.

No matter how organized I was, 
The exhaustion never seemed to go away.

One afternoon, one of the nuns looked at me and said:
“You don’t need to manage your time.
You need to manage your energy.”
That sentence stuck with me for life.

Here’s what I learned over the years:

1- Set a clear goal: 
Such as ending your day feeling energized.

2- Identify your why: 
Like being present for your family and pursuing your passions.

3- Implement a plan: 
Simple changes like regular breaks and 
focusing on energizing tasks can make a big impact.

Managing energy keeps you going when the tasks seem endless. It allows you to show up as your best self.

As Oprah said:
“You can’t be a source for others if you’re running on empty.”

So, if you feel drained, pause and reassess.

Ask yourself not just what you need to do, 
but how you want to feel while doing it.

Your energy is your most valuable resource.

P.S. What’s your goal for energy management?

♻️ Repost this to inspire others
➕ Need support? Send me a DM
🔔 Follow Diana Lasso for more Strategic Leadership Insights

Helping execs in new roles accelerate impact, build credibility fast and avoid costly transition mistakes | xIBM Consulting | xPwC | Certified Executive Coach

You’ve just landed your next big executive role - congratulations!

Now comes the part no one prepares you for: making it successful.

The hard truth is, 40% of executive transitions fail within 18 months.

And the cost is staggering:

2.5x to 30x the executive’s salary in lost productivity, turnover, and disruption.

Career damage for the executive that can take years to recover from.

Maybe it's your first time at the senior leadership table. 
Maybe you've done this before, but this time, the stakes feel higher. 
Different company, industry, department or role.

Either way, you know this first year will define your reputation and your results.

Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You've inherited a team that doesn't fully trust you yet. 
You're navigating company politics, shifting priorities, and sky-high expectations. 
Everyone's watching, but no one's guiding. 
You're smart, experienced, and capable. 
But the pressure to prove yourself is relentless.

This is exactly where I come in.

I help new executives thrive where 40% fail by guiding them through the high-stakes first year.

My coaching is confidential, personalized, and focused on helping you:

✔ Earn trust quickly and secure early credibility
✔ Navigate politics and hidden organizational dynamics
✔ Build and align your leadership team for quick wins
✔ Make high-impact decisions without costly missteps
✔ Lay the foundation for long-term success and legacy

 Why Trust Me?
• 25+ years in Fortune 500 consulting, partnering with senior executives 
• Led $30M+ transformation portfolios and 250+ person practices at IBM 
• Led risk strategy for $100M+ proposals and complex transformations 
• Built and delivered IBM's top global executive coaching programs 
• Certified executive coach with 300+ leaders coached

If you’re ready to accelerate your impact and avoid costly missteps,

let’s make your first year your strongest. 

📩 DM me “Executive Transition” and let’s talk.

Dora Vanourek

If you're not growing in your job, you're shrinking.

But shrinking feels like stability.

Like patience.
Commitment.
Paying your dues.

So you start telling yourself:

'The market's tough right now.' 
'I'm lucky to have a job.' 
'Maybe next year will be different.'

And while you're being 'patient':

Someone with half your experience gets promoted.

Someone who started after you becomes your boss.

The job-hopper is making 40% more.

If your company isn't investing in your growth, 
you're not building a career -
you're maintaining theirs.

They get your best years. 
You get a review that says 'meets expectations.'

Growth isn't just about moving up.

It's about expanding your skills.
Taking on challenges that scare you.
Working with people who believe in you.

Ask yourself:

- When did you last learn something that changed how you work?

- Who's invested in your development this quarter?

- What skills are you building for your next role?

If it's tough to answer these, you're not stable.

You're stuck.

And stuck is just shrinking in slow motion.

The riskiest career move isn't leaving too soon.

It's staying too long.

How will you feel next year if nothing changes?

Your growth doesn't need permission.

♻️ Repost to help your network
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

If your workplace makes you smaller to fit in,
it's time to find a bigger room.
When you feel smaller, it's not you - it's the culture. 

Because the wrong environment will turn 
your strengths into insecurities.

Here's what that looks like:

❌ You stop speaking up because your ideas get dismissed

❌ You downplay your wins because celebrating feels unsafe

❌ You dim your expertise to avoid threatening fragile egos

And slowly, you forget what it felt like to be yourself.

The right people don't need you small.

So here's your checklist:

→ Do people celebrate your wins or compete with them?

→ Can you disagree without being labelled "difficult"?

→ Are your strengths treated as assets - or threats?

You're not the problem.
The room is.

And you have two moves:

Change the culture.
Or change the room.

Don't just survive in spaces that shrink you.

Find the people who make you braver, sharper, bigger.

Build with the ones who raise the standard - not lower it.

Because you deserve to thrive, not just survive.

💬 Who's in your corner - making you better?
Tag them. They deserve to know.

♻️ Repost to remind someone their potential isn't negotiable
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for career insights

The most painful part of growth:

The people closest to you will try to stop it.

And the faster you grow, the more uncomfortable others become.

It's not personal - it's human nature:

- People prefer the version of you they're used to
- Some feel threatened by your progress
- Others try to keep you "safe" in your comfort zone

Here are 5 powerful ways to protect your growth:

1. Audit Your Circle 👥 
↳ Who celebrates your wins vs. who diminishes them?
↳ Distance isn't betrayal, it's boundaries

2. Stop Explaining Yourself 🤐 
↳ You don't owe anyone a justification for growth
↳ Let your results do the talking

3. Track Your Progress 📈
↳ Screenshot encouraging feedback and messages
↳ Celebrate small victories, they compound into big changes

4. Find Your Growth Squad 🔗
↳ Seek people 2-3 steps ahead of you 
↳ Invest in mentors who've walked your path

5. Trust Yourself 💪
↳ Your intuition knows before your mind does
↳ Bet on yourself when no one else will

The people who truly belong in your life will celebrate your growth. 

Don't shrink yourself to make others comfortable.

♻️ Repost to help your network
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

Life is too short to spend time with people
who secretly hope you fail.
You know exactly who they are.

The ones who:

- Ask about your promotion with fake concern
- Share your mistakes but never your wins
- Go silent when good things happen to you
- Always have a 'but' after congratulations
- Remember every time you stumbled

Stop making excuses for people who wouldn't make time for you.

Choose people who:

- Text you job opportunities
- Celebrate your wins like their own
- Defend you in rooms you're not in
- Push you toward your potential
- Actually want you to succeed

Your circle should expand your possibilities, not shrink them.

It's not mean to cut people off.
It's mean to yourself not to.

Choose people who choose you back.

♻️ Repost to remind someone they deserve real supporters
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

A year ago, I left my 25+ years tech consulting career.

To build something of my own.

My friends couldn't understand why I'd leave stability.

Others questioned if it was "too late" to start over.

A few called it a midlife crisis.

But then I found my new people.

Entrepreneurs who'd walked away from golden handcuffs.

Creators building empires from their expertise.

Leaders who measured success differently.

Their ambition didn't make me feel behind.

It showed me what was possible.

When you change your path, you need people who've already taken the leap.

5 ways to upgrade your circle:

1. Audit your conversations - are you talking about problems or possibilities?

2. Join spaces where your future self would hang out, not where you currently are.

3. Share your bold goals openly - ambitious people are drawn to other dreamers.

4. Ask "What are you building?" instead of "How's work?"

5. Give yourself permission to outgrow relationships that hold you to your old life.

Your old circle will keep you comfortable.

Your new circle will keep you growing.

Evolve your circle.
Choose growth.

♻️ Repost to remind someone to find their circle
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

Fear-driven leadership works fast.

But the damage works faster.

Too many leaders obsess over hitting this quarter's numbers.

Meanwhile, their best people are quietly updating their resumes.

When people are afraid, they choose:

- safety over success
- silence over solutions
- survival over growth

What to avoid as a leader:

❌ Threatening job security
↳ "Many people would love to have your role."

❌ Using subtle threats
↳ "We need to talk about your career here."

❌ Manufacturing fake urgency
↳ "This needs to be done by EOD" (when it doesn't)

❌ Keeping people guessing
↳ Unclear expectations, moving goalposts

❌ Weaponizing performance reviews
↳ Don't treat reviews as threats

What to do as a leader:

✅ Recognize and appreciate often
↳ Ensure your employees feel valued

✅ Invest in their growth
↳ Create clear paths for career advancement

✅ Share the bigger picture
↳ Help them see how their work creates meaningful impact

✅ Give your team ownership
↳ Trust them to make decisions and take risks

✅ Stand behind your team
↳ Protect them from politics and have their backs

Fear might get you compliance today.

But trust gets you people who care.

♻️ Repost to inspire people-first leadership
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

A harsh truth we often learn too late:
At work, you're replaceable.
At home, you're everything.

We chase success and tell ourselves it's all for the family.

Until one day, we look up and realize:

- Your work got the best of you
- You missed important moments
- The people you love got the leftovers

Here's how to change that story:

1. Make family time sacred
↳ Schedule it first, protect it fiercely

2. Set boundaries that actually work
↳ That email can wait. Dinner with family can't

3. Challenge every "urgent" task
↳ Most things can wait until tomorrow

4. Say No to what drains or distracts you
↳ Your energy is limited - protect it

5. Break the "always on" myth
↳ Constant availability isn't loyalty - it's a trap

6. Define what success means to you
↳ No bonus replaces missed moments

7. Trust your team
↳ Empower others to step in when you step away

8. Stop postponing joy
↳ "Someday" is a dangerous word

Success feels empty if you lose yourself getting there.

Protect what can't be replaced.

♻️ Repost to remind someone
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

I'm turning 50 this week 🎂
Grew up in communist Czechoslovakia
where entrepreneurship was illegal.

Success meant getting a job at a prestigious company.

And staying there until retirement.

So that's what I did.

At 48, I looked at my life and realized:

I'd followed every rule.
Done everything "right."
And I still felt trapped.

So I built my escape route.

One LinkedIn post at a time.

A year later, at 49, I left.

Now I have freedom and flexibility I didn't know was possible.

But when I started writing,
my biggest challenge was coming up with ideas.

Staring at a blank screen every day:

- What do I even talk about?
- Will anyone care?
- How do I stay consistent without burning out?

This is why Stanley (Your Content Coach) matters so much to me.

It's the tool I wish I'd had earlier.

It helps me: 

- Give me honest feedback when I need it
- Flag when my audience is tired of a topic
- Turn one coaching session into 4 different posts

My posts created with Stanley outperform my others by 35-40%.

No matter how stuck you feel.

No matter your age.

No matter what you were taught about "safety" and "success."

You can move forward.

It’s never too late.

If you're building your escape route,
try Stanley for free today: https://lnkd.in/g9nvAJzJ

#stanleypartner

Most resignations start the same way.

With a manager who never notices.

People check out long before they officially leave.

Their disengagement builds slowly - one overlooked issue at a time.

High performers notice everything.

They see who contributes and who coasts.

When you tolerate mediocrity, you're telling your best people their standards don't matter.

They deserve better.

And so do you as a leader.

Great leaders do these 5 things differently:

1. Set the bar clearly
→ Define what success looks like - no guessing
→ Write the rules so no one's confused

2. Address issues early
→ Small problems turn big when ignored
→ Have tough conversations before things escalate

3. Be present, not just available
→ Prioritize 1:1s so people know they matter
→ Truly listen, and catch problems early

4. Do what you say, every time
→ Keep every promise. No exceptions
→ Show visible progress to build trust

5. Celebrate what matters
→ Recognize the behaviours you want more of
→ Skip "good job" - say exactly what worked

What you tolerate becomes your culture.

Make sure it's one your top performers want to stay in.

♻️ Repost to help your network
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

Hard work doesn’t burn people out.

Poor leadership does.

The solution isn't meditation apps or productivity hacks.

It's fixing the leadership habits destroying your people:

1. Micromanaging:
↳ Constant oversight drains energy and destroys trust

2. Constant urgency:
↳ Making everything urgent creates chronic stress

3. Lack of appreciation:
↳ Hard work without rewards is a top reason for burnout

4. Not respecting work-life balance:
↳ Always-on culture leads to always-burned-out teams

5. Ineffective communication:
↳ Unclear direction creates confusion and decision paralysis

6. Not providing support:
↳ Setting people up to fail, then wondering why

7. Ignoring feedback:
↳ Not being heard destroys trust and makes people feel powerless

8. Information hoarding:
↳ Operating in the dark causes constant stress and preventable mistakes

9. Impulsive decision making:
↳ Constant pivots exhaust everyone

10. Tolerating toxic team members:
↳ One bad apple really does spoil the bunch

Your team doesn't need more yoga sessions or mental health apps.

They need leaders who make them feel valued, supported, and heard.

Lead with empathy, not just with metrics.

♻️ Repost to promote healthier cultures
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

McKinsey: 89% of leaders miss critical warning signs

76% learn too late; 34% never learn at all.

Incredible carousel from my friend Malay Matalia 🔥
Check him out for more insights like this.

Harvard found:
- Great leaders catch these signs early
- The average ones learn from exits
- The poor ones never learn at all

11 wake-up calls leaders need to hear today:

1. When bad news stops flowing:
→ You haven't built trust
→ You've built fear

2. When the calendar is full but the impact is minimal:
→ You're managing time
→ Not driving results

3. When you blame the team but claim wins as yours:
→ You're not leading
→ You're just taking credit

4. When you're the smartest in meetings:
→ You're hiring for comfort
→ Not for growth

5. When decisions only flow down:
→ You've created soldiers
→ Not future leaders

6. When resumes are getting updated:
→ Your open-door policy
→ Was just empty words

7. When challenges stop coming:
→ Your team has already given up
→ You don't listen anyway

8. When celebrations are louder without you:
→ You're limiting your team
→ Not the catalyst

9. When you speak more than listen:
→ You're leading by power
→ Not valuing your team's insights

10. When no one outgrows their role:
→ You're creating ceilings
→ Not empowering your team

11. When being right matters most:
→ You've stopped leading
→ You've stopped growing

Remember:
Listen to what your team is saying.
And what they aren't saying.
Their silence speaks volumes.

What other wake-up calls would you add?

♻️ Repost to help someone
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

11 Wake-Up Calls All Leaders Need to Hear

89% of careers don't fail because of technical gaps.

They fail because of poor soft skills.

An incredible carousel from my friend Malay Matalia 🔥
(Give him a follow)

Your career grows as fast as your human skills do.

9 powerful skills most people never truly learn:

1️⃣ The SHR Method
→ Makes people feel truly valued
→ Creates instant connections
→ Builds lasting relationships

2️⃣ Body Language Mastery
→ Only 7% is what you say
→ 38% is your tone
→ 55% is how you move

3️⃣ The 4-Bullet Update
→ Clear communication
→ No confusion
→ Maximum impact

4️⃣ Speaking Excellence
→ Record yourself
→ Review your patterns
→ Refine your delivery

5️⃣ Strategic Questions
→ Build deeper connections
→ Create genuine interest
→ Foster real relationships

6️⃣ Friday Highlights
→ Build team trust
→ Increase visibility
→ Drive accountability

7️⃣ Emotional Intelligence
→ Stay above drama
→ Build respect
→ Maintain professionalism

8️⃣ Name Mastery
→ Show genuine care
→ Create lasting impressions
→ Deepen connections

9️⃣ Continuous Learning
→ 30 minutes daily
→ Compound your knowledge
→ Accelerate your growth

You deserve to thrive, not just survive.

Build the soft skills that get you there.

What's your most valuable soft skill?
Share below ⬇️

♻️ Repost to help your network
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

9 Soft Skills to Accelerate Your Career

If you're not willing to fight for your team,
you don't belong in management.

I'll never forget watching my manager 
in a senior leadership meeting:

"You're asking my team to do 3 top priorities. 
Pick one.
Or give me more people."

The room went silent.

Then they picked one.

That's when I learned:

Real leaders don't just manage work - they protect people.

10 ways great leaders protect their teams:

1. Block Burnout Triggers
↳ Kill the root causes before exhaustion turns into resignation letters

2. Stop the Fake Urgencies
↳ Everything can't be urgent. Push back on manufactured crises

3. Eliminate Useless Work
↳ Cut low-value tasks such as creating reports that nobody reads

4. Push Back on Deadlines
↳ Negotiate realistic timelines. Say no to deadlines that require overtime

5. Require Priority Trade-offs
↳ Ask stakeholders to remove something else before adding new work

6. Cut Through Bureaucracy
↳ Push back on unnecessary approvals and processes that slow down your team

7. Protect Deep Work
↳ Create distraction-free times and keep "quick requests" from destroying focus time

8. Defend Their Reputation
↳ CC their wins to skip-levels. Stand up for them when they're not in the room

9. Shield from Office Politics
↳ Handle the organizational drama so your team can focus on real work

10. Limit Meeting Madness
↳ Prevent endless meetings that destroy productivity and focus

Your team doesn't need another manager.

They need a leader who truly has their back.

Be that leader.

PS: What's one thing you wish more leaders did for their teams?

♻️ Repost to help your network
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

Being smart isn't always an advantage.

It'll keep you stuck if you fall into these traps.

You work twice as hard.

You know you're capable of more.

But others still seem to get ahead.

It's not a lack of talent.

It's these traps holding you back:

1. The Overthinking Trap 🌀
↳ You spend months researching instead of taking action
↳ Avoid analysis paralysis with the 24-hour decision rule

2. The Comfort Zone Trap 🏝️
↳ Being the top performer in a small pond limits your growth
↳ Commit to one project that scares you every quarter

3. The Knowledge Hoarding Trap 📚
↳ Your bookshelf grows while your results stay the same
↳ Match every hour of learning with action

4. The Solo Player Trap 🧑‍🚀
↳ You avoid asking for help, seeing it as a weakness
↳ Find mentors who've already achieved what you want

5. The Intelligent Excuses Trap 🦊
↳ You use smart logic to justify staying average
↳ The real danger isn't failing - it's staying the same

6. The Multi-Potential Trap 🎭
↳ You have many talents but never commit to any
↳ Choose 1 focus for 90 days and say no to everything else

7. The Perfectionism Trap 🎯
↳ Your high standards become an excuse to never start
↳ Lower the bar and avoid endless revisions

Don't let these patterns keep you stuck.

You already have what it takes.

♻ Repost to help your network
➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

taplio

The Battle

Diana Lasso

Dora Vanourek

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreDiana Lasso's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreDora Vanourek's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Diana Lasso

Dora Vanourek

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Diana Lasso's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreDora Vanourek's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDiana Lasso's LinkedIn Performance