“They silenced me.”

“They didn’t value my work.”

“They ignored my contributions.”

I’ve heard these phrases throughout my 20+ years in B2B tech. Sometimes from colleagues. Sometimes in my own head.

I’m thankful that while these moments stand out, they don’t define my career. Most of my journey has been with supportive teams and inspiring leaders who helped me grow.

But those few key moments taught me the most.

The pressure cooker of tech doesn’t allow us to be our best selves. I wasn’t my best self either. I changed to fit in until I no longer recognized myself. I spoke less, took up less space, and buried parts of myself that made others uncomfortable.

I’ve sat in exec meetings where my ideas were overlooked until someone else repeated them.

I’ve watched diverse views treated as interesting but not useful.

I’ve felt the sting when speaking up was seen as “rocking the boat.”

The real shift came when I stopped trying to fit in where I had to shrink and started finding places where I could grow.

“I allowed them to silence me” → “I have the power to speak up.”

“I allowed my work to go unnoticed” → “I have the power to show my value.”

“I allowed myself to fit in” → “I have the power to find where I truly belong.”

This isn’t about blame. It’s about seeing when we give away our power and choosing differently.

My career has given me chances to make an impact and lift others in ways I never imagined. For that, I’m truly grateful.

The best lesson wasn’t how to push against barriers. It was finding the tables where my voice was welcomed rather than just tolerated.

In healthier situations, I’ve seen how good people can be. The same colleagues who seemed tough in high-stress settings often show their best selves when the context changes.

As I work in AI today, I see how important diverse voices are to ensure AI work for everyone, not just a select few. We can’t build tech for all without input from all.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Accelerate Action” because at this rate, full gender parity won’t arrive until 2158.

Progress isn’t certain. In some areas, we’re moving backward. But that’s exactly why owning our power matters now more than ever.

To every woman facing similar challenges:

• Your unique voice isn’t something to hide. It’s your greatest asset.

• Your ideas matter not because others say so, but because you bring them forward.

• Your strength grows each time you choose to be fully yourself.

What small act of courage will you take today?

#InternationalWomensDay #WomenInTech #AccelerateAction #IWD #AI

Money is falling through the cracks between your sales and marketing teams. AI is going to expose exactly how much it’s costing you.

For years, companies have accepted misalignment as normal. Marketing focuses on lead quantity. Sales complains about lead quality. Both teams hit their individual KPIs while your company loses revenue through inefficiency.

But when the cost of poor handoffs and misaligned messaging appear in dollars on a dashboard, no one can ignore it anymore.

I discuss in my latest newsletter:

• How to calculate your exact revenue loss from sales/marketing misalignment

• Why strategic targeting alignment matters more than tactical handoffs

• A simple but powerful framework that gets both teams focused on the right prospects

• How AI makes these gaps visible by converting patterns into revenue impact

Thank you to the industry leaders who contributed their expertise: Latané Conant (she/her) (CRO of 6Sense), Kimberly O’Neil (former COO of Encompass Technologies) and Jonathan Moss (EVP of Growth, GTM Strategy & Ops of Experity).

An interactive calculator shows what you might uncover: a company generating 500 monthly leads with $25K average deals could be losing $1.5M monthly from slow follow-up alone.

Prefer listening? I’ve created an AI-generated podcast version of this newsletter for those who absorb information better through audio. Link in comments.

Where is your org leaving money on the table? And how are you planning to close these gaps before AI makes them impossible to hide?

#RevenueLoss #SalesMarketingAlignment #GTMStrategy #CustomerExperience #AI

Just when you’re feeling like a rockstar after getting AI feedback, think twice. Most AI tools aren’t built to challenge you. They’re built to keep you engaged with a positivity bias.

When AI only tells you what you want to hear, it holds you back.

This happens because:

• AI tools are designed to keep users happy, not challenge them.

• Most AI avoids tough feedback because it risks losing users.

• AI lacks the judgment that human editors gain from experience.

You can get better feedback by telling AI exactly what you need: “Be honest, unbiased, and critical. That’s how you can help me improve.”

I built this approach into a Writing Evaluator GPT, a specialized AI tool that gives writing feedback at different levels:

• Encouraging & Supportive – Great for beginners, highlights strengths with tips.

• Constructive & Developmental – Balanced mix of praise and practical advice.

• Adaptive & Responsive – Adjusts to your writing goals and style.

• Analytical & Rigorous – In-depth critique of structure and technique for serious writers.

• Critical & Challenging – Tough feedback to push experienced writers further.

This turns AI from a passive tool into a real writing coach.

You can use this approach with any AI tool:

• Ask it to focus on weaknesses first, not strengths

• Set up a clear rating scale to measure quality

• Show examples of both helpful criticism and praise

• Ask for feedback on specific parts you want to improve

Writers who get honest insights improve faster than those who rely on AI for reassurance.

Want real feedback instead of praise? Try the Writing Evaluator GPT (link in comments).

#PositivityBias #AICollaboration #CriticalThinking #AI #GPT

We’re trained from day one to have the right answers. But what if that’s becoming the wrong skill?

We get rewarded for answers. School tests. Executive meetings. Customer conversations.

But nowadays, answers are everywhere with AI. Easy to find. Easy to copy.

What’s rare is people who ask questions that get others thinking differently.

You see this in the best leaders. They don’t show up with solutions. They ask questions that help teams see opportunities others miss.

As AI becomes more integrated into our work, the ability to ask insightful questions becomes even more valuable. That’s how we’ll uncover the best insights, elevate our ideas, and get the most from these powerful tools.

Here’s a simple framework I use:

• ► Discover – Turn “what is” into “how does this work”

• ► Connect – Turn “what happened” into “how do these pieces fit together”

• ► Reimagine – Turn “how do we solve” into “what might be possible”

• ► Impact – Turn “what’s next” into “how might this change everything”

The difference between getting basic information and real insights comes down to the questions you ask.

I’ve put together examples from Sales, Marketing, Product, and Customer success that show this approach in action.

Check out the carousel for practical tips you can use in your next AI conversation.

Your thoughts? How do you ask good questions of AI?

#AICollaboration #AIStrategy #AIPrompts #ThoughtLeadership #AIInsights

Grief is complicated. We expect sadness, but there’s also laughter, gratitude, and unexpected moments of joy. That’s what I experienced when we gathered to celebrate my aunt’s life this week.

She was a second mother to me, and her greatest gift, even in her absence, was bringing people together. Our big Filipino family came from all over the U.S. and the Philippines. Some I hadn’t seen in decades, and some I met for the first time.

In the middle of the grief, I noticed something simple but important. We cried, but we also laughed at old stories. We felt the loss, but we also felt deeply connected.

Moments like this remind us of the bigger picture. They bring out our full humanity.

But in everyday life, that balance is harder to find.

It’s easy to focus on what’s going wrong, even if it’s just a small part of the picture. At the same time, we miss what’s going right. Our brains are wired this way. It helped us become the most adaptable creatures on this planet.

That’s why I created Balanced View GPT, a simple tool to help you:

• Acknowledge real challenges

• Notice strengths you might be missing

• See a fuller, more balanced picture

I think this is one of the most valuable ways AI can help. We bring our experiences and insights. AI helps us see what we might be overlooking. Together, we get a clearer view.

What might change for you if you could see both the struggles and the progress? What decisions would feel different if you had a more complete perspective?

Next time you catch yourself stuck on what’s going wrong, try Balanced View GPT (link in comments). See what a balanced perspective reveals about your work, relationships, and growth. Hope it helps!

#AIAndHumans #BalancedView #GrowthMindset #LifeLessons #AICompanion

Balanced View GPT: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-67c46462f71c81919b105146df482504-balanced-view-gpt