We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jenny Vazquez-Newsum. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jenny below.

Jenny, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The idea for my business, Untapped Leaders, came from my extensive experience working with leaders from all backgrounds and career levels. Over the past two decades, I’ve had the opportunity to work with over 500 leaders, ranging from established executives at large corporations to high school students just beginning their leadership journeys. Through this work, I’ve seen firsthand the untapped capacities that exist across all stages of career paths. However, as I delved deeper into the limitations of current leadership rhetoric, I became increasingly committed to bringing in the voices of the often-unrecognized leadership contributions of BIPOC and marginalized leaders.

This led me to launch Untapped Leaders, a leadership development organization that creates a space for these contributions to be named, validated, and amplified. I realized that most leadership frameworks are not developed by nor for leaders of color, and this was an opportunity to center marginalized perspectives in my work. Through this, I wanted to democratize access to leadership and career development resources for underrepresented leaders through a dynamic online community and network, as well as bring these essential frameworks to teams and organizations.

I knew this was a worthwhile endeavor because while there are many leadership development and coaching platforms out there, none are built upon frameworks informed by the experiences of underrepresented leaders. I felt that this approach would be unique and provide a valuable service to our workplaces as it sits at the nexus of leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). I am passionate about creating a more equitable world and this is one way I can contribute to that goal.

Jenny, 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 an author, facilitator, public speaker, and the founder of Untapped Leaders, a leadership development organization that I started to uncover the overlooked potential within individuals, teams, and companies. I have a genuine passion for leadership and am on a mission to set the framework needed to support companies searching for innovative ways to handle even the most complex leadership-related challenges and discover the untapped opportunities existing within their teams. As a biracial Black/LatinX woman, I aim to fill the gaps in leadership often caused by outdated rhetoric while sharing a fresh and exciting perspective that benefits organizations and their employees.

I got into this industry after completing my education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, an MPA from New York University and a Doctorate in Education from the University of California – Los Angeles. Prior to starting my own business, I worked as the Vice President of Leadership Training and Programs at Coro Southern California, where I worked with over 500 leaders throughout various stages of their career journeys. This experience helped me to understand the limitations of current leadership rhetoric, and inspired me to start Untapped Leaders to bring the voices of marginalized leaders and BIPOC to the forefront.

Within the Untapped Leaders Community, we provide a dynamic and diverse leadership community that centers marginalized experiences and overlooked leadership strategies for fresh approaches to complex challenges. We believe that the rules of the game are not the same for everyone, so we don’t use the same playbook. This sets us apart from others in the field, as we uniquely approach leadership development informed by the experiences of underrepresented leaders.

I am most proud of the fact that I have been able to turn my passion for leadership into a successful business, and that I am able to make a positive impact on the lives of others. In order to “lead differently” as we say at Untapped Leaders, I’ve also committed to working differently. I am proud of the fact that I have been able to adapt and build my business to accommodate the reality of having many roles– as a mother of young children, a daughter, a partner, a friend, and an advocate for necessary pauses in an overly fast-paced world.

In summary, Untapped Leaders is a leadership development organization that centers marginalized perspectives in its work, providing a dynamic and diverse leadership community and a framework that amplifies marginalized and overlooked leadership strategies for fresh approaches. As the founder, I am passionate about creating a more equitable world and I am proud to be making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building a social media presence and following was my least favorite task when I started. I knew it would drain my time and energy and not be the best use of my efforts in building the business. So, I decided to outsource this task immediately. I invested to get contract support to help me with my social media efforts.

My goal was to remain consistent and paced with posts and content. I wanted to make sure that I was providing valuable content to my followers regularly without overwhelming them. I also understood that social media could trick you into thinking you have to be online on all platforms all the time, and that is not sustainable. It’s important to find a balance that works for you.

My advice to those just starting to build their social media presence is to pick your avenue (or 2) and focus on them. Set a schedule for when you will post and stick to it. If you can, get help with your social media efforts to alleviate the pressure and stress of trying to do everything on your own. And most importantly, don’t get caught up chasing virality. Building a following takes time, so focus on providing value and building relationships with your audience.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

As the founder of Untapped Leaders, I currently work with a team of contractors who support the business. One of the most important things I’ve learned when managing a team is that even if it’s a contractor, ensuring they feel valued and appreciated for their efforts in making the business work is so important. I often share with contractors what a tremendous impact their work does, even if it’s only a few hours per week, to let the business grow and thrive. No matter the role, everyone’s work is essential, and they should know their contributions are valued.

In general, when managing teams, I have found that allowing people the space to approach their work in their own style and approach often gives them room to thrive the most and ends up having the biggest impact on the organization. If people can show up fully to their role, they often put in fully to the work intrinsically.

As a CEO and manager, I focus more on the “what” that needs to get done to offer vision and direction, but I am much less interested in the “how” someone gets there because that is for them to know best. I always offer guidance, but it tends to be less prescriptive in telling someone what to do and more supportive in allowing someone to think through the challenges/opportunities, offering my input and observations for them to incorporate into their decisions.

To maintain high morale, I believe in recognizing and rewarding good work and making sure everyone is aware of the impact they are having on the business. Also, I communicate with the team regularly to get their input and feedback and to address any concerns they may have. In summary, my advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale is to value and appreciate your team members, allow them to approach their work in their own way, and regularly communicate with them to get their input and address any concerns they may have.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.untappedleaders.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untappedleaders/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/untapped-leaders/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/UntappedLeaders
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jennyvazquez-newsum
• Other: Personal website: https://jennyv-n.com/ Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/jennyvazqueznewsum/ Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jvazqueznewsum/ Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennyvn_leads