What does it really take to be a woman at the top — not just to get there, but to stay? In this listener favorite, Suzanne Weller sits down with global technology executive Fumbi Chima for an honest conversation about directness, equity, identity, and the quiet courage it takes to stop shrinking your truth.

Dr. Fumbi Chima is an executive coach at The ExCo Group and has held CIO and senior executive roles at Boeing Employees Credit Union, Adidas, Fox Networks Group, Burberry, Walmart, and American Express. She sits on the public company boards of Whitbread and WTW. Born in Nigeria and educated in England, she has spent nearly three decades at the intersection of business and technology — and taught herself to code along the way.

Key takeaways:

• Getting to the top and staying there are two different challenges — and the second one doesn't get nearly enough airtime
• Curiosity (about other people, other cultures, other ways of thinking) is the foundation of a true global mindset
• Fumbi's Gen Z daughters pushed her to say what she actually meant. She listened.
• Moving from ten words to seven isn't about being blunt. It's about being honest enough to stop protecting people from the truth you're carrying.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction to the theme of courage and growth

(04:26) - Women at the top: Benefits and loneliness

(06:11) - Challenges women face to stay in leadership roles

(07:37) - The reality of diversity scorecards vs. genuine inclusion

(12:28) - Fumbi’s childhood in Nigeria and England

(15:05) - Self-teaching technology and building new skills

(17:37) - The power of ambition and owning your career goals

(20:22) - Confidently celebrating achievements and owning your voice

(25:18) - Cultivating a global mindset through curiosity

(33:37) - Ongoing learning in AI and data for future leadership

(34:37) - Closing thoughts on embracing disruption and innovation

Connect with Dr. Fumbi Chima on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fumbi-chima/

Connect with The Courage Effect:

• Host: Suzanne Weller / Weller Collaboration
• Website: https://wellercollaboration.com/thecourageeffect
• Social Media: https://linktr.ee/suzanneweller
• Substack: Sign up for Suzanne’s Reimagine Growth newsletter at https://suzanneweller.substack.com/about

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