A conversation about working with others and making room for what comes next

Monica Cartwright describes herself as having been raised in operations. She began answering phones at a bank, found that she enjoyed solving customers’ problems, and grew through stretch assignments offered by leaders who saw her potential. Her experience spans financial services, customer operations, revenue operations and business transformation.

In this conversation with Jennifer Wright, Monica explains why clarity and partnership shape her leadership. People need to understand the goal, what is expected of them, and how their work affects others. She also makes a point of asking colleagues what she might be missing, especially when a project appears to be going well.

Monica shares how reaching out for feedback helped her build working relationships and improve her work. She speaks candidly about being an introvert, learning to build connections beyond her employer, and keeping those relationships alive without needing something from every conversation.

The conversation also turns to the human judgment needed alongside AI, the value of communication and self-awareness, and the importance of checking whether your work still supports the future you want. Monica is exploring how to apply what she has learned to ideas of her own while remaining open to opportunities in operations and transformation.

“you don’t have all the answers and you’re not always right.”

On self-awareness and asking colleagues to challenge an approach

“How do I ensure the success of this project, this task, this initiative?”

On moving past fear of criticism and focusing on the work

“I think you kind of box yourself in if you expect and follow a straight path.”

On learning from an indirect career path

Monica Cartwright has spent more than 25 years leading teams, improving customer experiences and helping organizations navigate change. During a 21-year career at Equifax, she progressed from project management to vice president, leading customer operations, revenue programs and business transformation initiatives. Based in the Atlanta area, she brings a practical perspective shaped by the people and day-to-day work behind business results.

Monica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdcartwright/

Leadership Portraits is a gallery of inspirational leadership, exploring the stories, experiences, and qualities that shape how people lead. Hosted by Jennifer Wright, the podcast shares conversations about the people behind the work. Follow for more conversations at LeadershipPortraits.com.

Leadership Portraits podcast: https://leadershipportraits.com/podcast/

More conversations: https://leadershipportraits.com/

Jennifer Wright on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferwrightexecuwright/

Contact Jennifer: jennifer@execuwright.com

Stacy Kamigaki is a fractional CMO, firm owner, and Leadership Voices coauthor whose work centers on growing businesses and developing the people behind them. In this conversation on Leadership Portraits, she joins Jennifer Wright to explore how the leaders we see shape the leaders we become—and why there’s room for more than one way to lead.

The conversation begins with Stacy’s move into fractional leadership and what it means to take responsibility for marketing as part of a company’s leadership team. From there, she shares her approach to mentorship: understand each person’s strengths, interests, and ambitions, then help them grow with those differences in mind. She also reflects on what younger generations are teaching established leaders about speaking up and seeing the whole person.

At the center of the episode is Stacy’s Leadership Voices chapter, “See It Be It.” Writing it helped her connect experiences across her career, while conversations with eight leaders revealed how differently people describe the qualities they value. A young Sunday school student’s dream of becoming a nurse or doctor brought the idea into focus: the examples around us can expand what we believe is possible.

Stacy encourages emerging leaders to begin with self-awareness, seek feedback, and notice where their strengths can meet a real need. She also shares the story of a company rebrand that brought people from multiple acquisitions together around a shared identity. What made that work meaningful was the team’s sense of ownership in the result.

The conversation closes with the value of learning across disciplines, books Stacy returns to, and the advice she’d offer her younger self: slow down, reflect, recognize the people who have helped you, and ask who you want to become—not only what you want to accomplish.

“And that’s really important because it all comes down to the people.”

On bringing people into a shared identity

“I guess I’m just a student at heart, but I love going into those sessions and just learning something new.”

On curiosity and continuous learning

“Not just what I want to do, but what do I want to be?”

On reflection and the advice she’d give her younger self

Stacy Kamigaki | Fractional CMO and firm owner, yorCMO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacykamigaki/

Your Story. Your Brand. — October 28, 2026, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. as listed by BPW Colorado. Attend in Denver or via Zoom. Details and registration: https://www.bpwcolorado.org/event-6860933

Read Stacy’s chapter, “See It Be It,” in Leadership Voices.

www.LeadershipVoicesBook.com

Dare to Lead — Brené Brown

Good to Great — Jim Collins

Traction — Gino Wickman

Host: Jennifer Wright

Podcast: Leadership Portraits

Leadership Portraits is a gallery of inspirational leadership, exploring the stories, experiences, and qualities that shape how people lead. Follow for more conversations about the people behind the work.

www.LeadershipPortraits.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferwrightexecuwright/

Episode Summary

Lisseth Zouhbi is a Chief Human Resources Officer with 25 years of experience, a coauthor of multiple leadership anthologies—including Leadership Voices—a speaker, and a mother of two. In this conversation on Leadership Portraits, she shares the philosophy and frameworks that have shaped her career and her approach to developing leaders at every level.

At the center of this conversation is Lisseth’s concept of the Emotional Compass—a five-step framework for navigating emotional intelligence in the workplace. The steps move from self-awareness (identifying what triggers your emotions) through understanding the “why,” reading the situation and those around you, responding with intention, and finally reflecting on what you learned. In hybrid and remote work environments where reading tone and body language is harder than ever, she argues this skill is becoming non-negotiable for effective leadership.

Lisseth also speaks candidly about change management in the age of AI—a topic she sees as fundamentally a people challenge, not a technology one. For her, soft skills like critical thinking, communication, and emotional intelligence are more essential now than ever, precisely because AI cannot replace the human judgment required to validate, question, and act on its outputs.

She shares how her organization built a tiered leadership development program covering senior executives, middle managers, and emerging leaders—and what skills she believes every aspiring leader must prioritize. Her advice to her younger self is both simple and powerful: make mistakes, don’t be hard on yourself, and never stop pushing forward.

Lisseth Zouhbi embodies the kind of leader she encourages others to become—one who never stops learning, invests deeply in the people around her, and leads with curiosity, resilience, and heart.

“I tell my kids and I tell my team: never stop learning. Always be curious, because no one’s going to take that away from you.”

On continuous learning and curiosity

“It’s like having your own personal compass—because you need to understand how to navigate your personal emotions to drive whatever outcome that you are seeking.”

On the Emotional Compass concept

“Always persevere. Continue to push yourself, regardless of what the outcome is, because it just helps to continue to build who you are and who you’re going to be.”

Closing message

Learn more about Leadership Voices - the book that Lisseth recently co-authored.

www.LeadershipVoicesBook.com or

on Amazon at: https://a.co/d/0gA6vRwF

Connect With Us and Learn More about Leadership Portraits

• Host: Jennifer Wright
• Podcast: Leadership Portraits
• Description: Leadership Portraits is a gallery that pays homage to the exceptional individuals who have not only led great teams but have also ignited inspiration and motivation in the hearts of their followers. This unique collection of portraits delves into the core qualities that define extraordinary leadership, capturing the essence of those who have left an indelible mark on their respective fields
• Follow for more conversations that explore the stories, struggles, and insights behind modern leaders

www.LeadershipPortraits.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferwrightexecuwright/