We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Araceli Avionn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Araceli below.

Araceli , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

When I think of legacy, I think personally and professionally. Professionally my goal is to leave a legacy of creating a path for future leaders to grow and reach their desired potential. Relatability and the ability to develop new leaders will be my leadership legacy. As a part of my legacy, I strive to ensure I leave great leaders in my place as I transition to other dreams and career aspirations. If I transition into a new role, I should have developed my replacement and created a path of advancement for another individual to progress in their career. Authentic and relatable is what I would like for others to describe my leadership style as while leaving a legacy. Leading with authenticity and being relatable has been a focus of mine. Relatability can range from finding a similarity with my team, to engaging in sports, TV shows or trying new recommended food choices. In all aspects, I have found an outlet to be relatable. I  have also written an Amazon Best Seller book entitled “UNDERRATED – The Rise Of The New Face In Leadership”. This book has been a part of building my legacy of leadership development.

Personally, I would like my legacy to be viewed as a woman, mother, and friend who strived to make a positive impact on lives touched. Demonstrating to my son how to navigate through adversity and achieve any goal he set forth is instrumental in my personal legacy.

Araceli , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Leadership Professional, Published Author, and Mentor/Coach. I earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in Technology Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the University of Houston, a Master of Business Administration from The Institute of Florida Technology and a Certification of Professional in Human Resources from HR Certification Institute. With my technical background I am able to provide services such as Leadership Coaching, Career Coaching, and Educational Coaching. Within these fields detailed leadership training, 1:1 coaching and development with a focus on goal setting and steps to attain and exceed outline goals; and road maps are developed to meet the needs of each client.

I am most proud of documenting my past 15 years in leadership in my published book “UNDERRATED – The Rise Of The New Face In Leadership” that provides a road map to navigate through the adversity leadership brings. UNDERATTED provides stories and concrete examples on how to navigate through the essential must-haves in leadership, and touches on the emotional side of leadership. Are you ready to become the best version of yourself in leadership and catapult your career to the next level? TOPICS INCLUDE: Leadership Expectations, Emotions In Leadership, How To Get A Seat At The Table, Remaining Focus In Leadership, Navigating Through Setbacks, Lessons Learned. I want to be apart of your journey of success in leadership!

Have you ever had to pivot?

I believe many professionals can relate to having to pivot and or adjust their mindset when it came to navigating their career choice during COVID-19. Whether owning a business or working in Corporate America, a shift to our normal operating practices were needed. Personally, from 2020 – 2022 I experienced my employer facilitating a reorganization of leadership, leadership taking a mandatory 20% temporary pay reduction, and ultimately our business sector was outsourced to a third-party company.

Having a multitude of uncertainty required a shift in mindset. “Is it worth it? And was it time for a change?” was a questioned that I had to answer. Surviving the initial reorganization was a morale booster and I began to feel comfortable in the longevity of my position during the adversity that came along with operating during COVID-19. Accepting the 20% pay reduction with increased responsibility was less than appealing and raised doubt in how the corporation valued its employees, as we were consistently reminded that we should be thankful to still have full-time employment. Our division now having the oversight of a third-party company required me to interview for a position I had been excelling at for the past 4 years.

Navigating through the emotional and mental adversity of the many changes in a compressed amount of time required me to not dwell on the non-controllable corporate changes and ensure I remained an effective leader to the teams under my responsibility. Leadership became more about managing the teams’ emotions verses the processes. The years 2020 – 2021 required an adjustment in mindset. Shifting to a positive mindset was all about using a practical positive approach to each situation. This allowed me to be at my best for the team.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

The advice I have for managing a team and maintaining a high morale will be to ensure you are creating the ideal environment you would strive in. I often reflect on how I wanted to be managed as a new leader and senior leader, it has not always been a smooth ride. I take my experiences and improve on the environment I create. Based on my experience, key take-aways that I would recommend are building a level of comfort professional and personally for your team to operate, this will help with developing a collaborative team. With having a collaborative team, you are investing in the level of trust that is given and received. Go beyond “My door is always open”.

Understanding what motivates your team. What motivates one, may not motivate all. It is important to have the flexibility to adjust your approach to reach the greater population. Promote work-life balance. In the current climate, your team will appreciate you as a leader understanding the stress that comes along with balancing life professionally and personally.   Provide your team with the resources to be successful in their role. Lastly don’t forget to have fun, be the leader you crave as a professional!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.iamaraceliavionn.com
• Instagram: iamaraceliavionn
• Linkedin: Araceli Avionn