Unleashing Your Authentic Leadership Potential with Nadia Carta

B2B Leadership Podcast

In this episode, best-selling author and leadership coach Nils Vinje interviews Nadia Carta, Head of Data Transformation at Google.

Nadia is a powerhouse of inspiration, known for her ability to spark zeal in others.

In our conversation, Nadia shared three key lessons from her 14-year tenure at Google: curiosity, authenticity, and aiming for big things. She believes that curiosity opens doors to new environments and genuine connections.

Authenticity and vulnerability, she says, are the building blocks of trust. And aiming for the impossible? That's what drives her to tackle challenging projects.

But it's not all about success. Nadia opened up about a recent experience of not getting a role she had prepared for. Despite the initial disappointment, she used this as an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. This led her to launch the "Spark Your Zeal" movement, write a book, and start her own podcast on leadership.

Nadia's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the beauty of turning setbacks into stepping stones. She believes that by fully putting herself out there, she is giving others permission to do the same. This approach to business, which she calls "business with grace," focuses not only on numbers and plans, but also on building a next generation of humans who find fulfillment in meaningful work.

We also discussed the importance of being the CEO of your own career and taking charge of personal growth and development. Nadia emphasized the value of having a coach and engaging in daily practices like journaling and mindfulness meditation for self-awareness.

I hope Nadia's story inspires you as much as it inspired me. Remember, in life, there are only three answers: yes, not yet, and something better is coming. So, keep sparking your zeal and pursuing your dreams!

Podcast Highlights:

3:41 - Lessons learned from 14 years at Google

Nadia reflects on her 14-year tenure at Google, highlighting the importance of curiosity, authenticity, vulnerability, and aiming for big things in her leadership style.

8:19 - Dealing with rejection and learning from it

Nadia shares her experience of not getting a role she had prepared for, discussing the initial disappointment and the lessons she learned from the experience.

10:36 - The power of "something better"

Nadia reflects on her rejection in a job interview and how it led her to discover the concept of "something better" in life.

13:35 - The gift of rejection

Nadia explains how the rejection she faced allowed her to pause, ask herself tough questions, and give birth to her biggest dreams.

20:31 - The importance of putting oneself out there

Nadia shares how putting herself out there fully has given others permission to bring themselves more and has created a sense of belonging and thriving in the corporate world.

21:49 - Business with grace and creating an inclusive environment

Nadia discusses how she inspires her clients by not only focusing on tech and ads, but also on building a better future and creating a next generation of humans who fulfill themselves while doing meaningful work.

24:12 - Being the CEO of your career and leading oneself first

Neil and Nadia talk about the importance of being in charge of one's career, figuring things out, and leading oneself first in order to have a meaningful life and make a positive impact on the world.

30:29 - The importance of having a coach

Having a coach can provide external perspective and keep you honest with yourself.

31:51 - The power of journaling and mindfulness meditation

Journaling and mindfulness meditation can bring awareness and help align with your true desires.

Connect with Nadia on Linkedin.