In this episode, explore the transformative power of embracing change with Trisha Daho, founder of Empowered Leadership Cultivation. Trisha opens up about leaving the security of a corporate leadership role to pursue her passion for building equitable and inclusive workplaces. Learn how self-reflection, mindset shifts, and courage can help you move beyond the limits of traditional career paths to create a life that aligns with your values and ambitions.
From lessons in resilience to building meaningful relationships and thriving in uncertain times, Trisha offers a candid and inspiring roadmap for finding your purpose. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re on the right path or wondered what it takes to pivot toward something new, this episode is for you.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Reflection: How self-awareness unlocks clarity and enables courageous decision-making.
- Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: Why perfectionism and fear of failure can hinder growth, and how to push past them.
- Building Resilience: Learn how to view setbacks as stepping stones and embrace a forward-focused mindset.
- Intentional Leadership: Insights on creating inclusive cultures and meaningful relationships in the workplace.
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Highlights
The key moments in this episode are:
[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers Podcast
[01:03] Meet Trish Daho: A Journey of Courage
[02:11] Trish's Career Transformation
[03:36] The Importance of Self-Reflection
[04:47] Discovering True Passion and Alignment
[06:26] Embracing Leadership and Excellence
[08:06] Building a Personal Brand
[14:56] Resilience and Overcoming Challenges
[18:57] Daily Habits for Success
[20:57] Creating Space for Strategic Thinking
[21:44] Dealing with Setbacks
[25:08] The Importance of In-Person Interactions
[28:31] Building Strategic Relationships
[35:06] Empowered: Culture and Leadership Development
[37:04] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts -
Lightning Round
Q: What book has greatly influenced you?
A: Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean GreavesQ: What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?
A: To love another person is to see the face of God. -Victor HugoQ: What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
A: AdaptableQ: What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?
A: Knowing that I was much more than what I did for a living.Q: What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?
A: Savage Daughter by Sarah Hester Ross -
Quotes
In the industries we typically work in, which are all professional services based firms, we are rewarded for what we know. But we are not purchased for what we know, we are purchased for who we are, and how easy we are to work with and how well we can be trusted. And that's a huge deal. You have worth for showing up and being who you're supposed to be.
Trisha Daho
I would say the biggest part of resilience is deciding that most things that happen have nothing to do with you. Taking nothing personally, because most people are so into their own stuff. The way they are reacting to you very seldom has to do with you personally. And if you don't take anything personally, you're much faster to get to the next thing that you're meant to have.
Trisha Daho
Perfectionism is the devil to entrepreneurship. Cause it's so much more powerful to keep doing until you're great instead of waiting until you're perfect.
Trisha Daho
I tell people all the time that relationship building requires you to actually care about the person that you're talking to. I am like the opposite of transactional with people. People need to know that you care about what they are as people first before they're willing to have anything else to do with you
Trisha Daho
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About
Trisha spent most of her career leading large, diverse teams toward the delivery of value for her clients at a Big 4 Accounting and Advisory firm, wherein she served as a partner. She has been pivotal in the discovery and sustainability of value in the billions of dollars for her clients. She has worked with executives and their teams in dozens of Fortune 500 companies in the majority of states. She has also created enormous value for entrepreneurs, high growth companies, and aspiring start-ups. But she was most impassioned about furthering the strategic and cultural initiatives in her firm. She left the corporate arena to light up the world of firm strategy, culture, talent, and DEI. And hence, Empowered was born.
Having made partner in a Big 4 accounting firm in 9 years, Trisha was charged with building thriving practices from scratch in 4 different regions of the country. Through laser-focused strategies and the ability to scale talent and service delivery quickly, she was able to create growth businesses that have expanded exponentially. The leaders she’s cultivated have gone on to be partners, CFOs, CEOs, and much more. She also spearheaded the cultural and DEI initiatives related to creating more diversity in hiring, development, and ultimately, leadership building, in addition to ensuring a more inclusive workplace for women and other minorities for 16 years there.
With her own company, Empowered partners with leadership teams to create sustainable and measurable people results, especially with regard to people strategies and implementation. Empowered helps organizations to create more fruitful talent acquisition and development strategies, accountability and measurement in leader performance, and the development of more equitable and inclusive cultures where all people thrive. The firm has offices in both Chicago and Paris.
Trisha regularly writes and speaks on a variety of topics, including authenticity in leadership, high impact teams, creating growth cultures, diversity and inclusion, the great resignation, hybrid working and DEI, industry insights, and many more. In her spare time, Trisha teaches kickboxing, fosters Labrador Retrievers, travels to faraway places, and watches lots of foreign films.