We live in a fast-paced world where corporations benefit from having the best of the best in their mix: Products, services, resources, technology and top talent. They know that within their talent mix, diverse talent in their employee base is a strong enabler of increased competitiveness. They are mindful of the many benefits diversity brings, acknowledging the importance of it to be innovative. In order to succeed in a globalized world, they must add variety and depth of skills and capabilities in their teams.

By embracing diversity, especially women in the workforce, the corporation makes all employees heard, ensures a range of viewpoints are taken into consideration to operate and enrich the business’ decision process; it fosters a positive team spirit while benefiting from the individual perspectives and experiences that each brings.

Courageous women who dare to think beyond their immediate reality to explore what might be ahead of them in their paths through life, are an inspiration to those who follow them. Recently, I had the opportunity to lead several half-a-day sessions of our workshop “Unlock your true potential, seek and choose balance” in Mexico. The participants were various groups of General Electric’s (GE) women employees in Monterrey and Mexico City.

What an amazing experience! These women stepped outside of their day-to-day dynamics (job, family, schedule, deliverables, challenges, etc.) to join our workshop and took the time to THINK what might be ahead on their lives.

There is a significant difference between confidence and pride, especially in the impact that our actions have on others as we interact with them. Effective leadership requires confidence … Pride in leadership, becomes a tyranny (1).

An organization which has been truly inspiring to me throughout the years is the GE Women’s Network because no matter what country they are in the company’s values of inclusion and diversity are exemplified by it.

On March 8th, I was honored to attend the GE Women’s Network Mexico City’s hub event aligned with the International Day of Women. It was a great event! At my presentation – Unlock your true potential, seek and choose balance – we talked about the importance of women as valued talent in the organization and how their development is a priority for the business. We ventured taking our minds to visualize how our lives would look like if we dared to explore what it takes to unlock our true potential. The goal was to place our thoughts on where we would like to be at in the near future professionally and in the various other dimensions of our lives.

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when it seems as one problem is solved, a new one arises? And then you start thinking, am I going to make it through this? Should I keep going?

Long time ago, I read an article at a spiritual booklet which drew a great analogy that I have not forgotten: It described adversity as boiling water in a pot and we with the choice of being either carrots, eggs or coffee beans. In boiling water, the carrots which seemed hard and strong, get soft and lose their strength. The eggs have a shell that looks the same before and after boiling water, but the inside – once fluid and malleable – turns hard and stiff. The coffee beans actually change the boiling water, they transform it into something with flavor that is good … When we choose to be like the coffee beans we change the situation around us.