Podcast Summary: The Leadership Dance - Ep. 2: Breaking Boardroom Barriers, with Jocelyn Mangan

Release Date: November 18, 2024

Introduction

In the second episode of The Leadership Dance, host Alissa Hsu Lynch welcomes Jocelyn Mangan, a visionary leader dedicated to transforming corporate boardrooms. Jocelyn is the CEO and founder of Illumine Impact and Illumine, organizations focused on accelerating diversity in corporate boards and bridging the gap between boardroom opportunities and underrepresented executive talent. With an impressive career spanning over two decades in technology, Jocelyn shares her insights on leadership, diversity, and the intricacies of board dynamics.

Early Life and Education

Jocelyn opens up about her childhood, describing herself as a "very curious child" with a penchant for exploring the world. Born in New Orleans and raised primarily in Houston, Texas, she was one of three sisters who attended public high schools. Her journey to Vanderbilt University, an institution she considered "a stretch school" academically and geographically, marked the beginning of her path-breaking career. Jocelyn reflects:

"I really started to break molds then and was always a very curious child, always kind of wanted to see the world."
— Jocelyn Mangan [01:35]

Career Journey in Technology

Despite majoring in English, Jocelyn's career took a surprising turn into technology. Her first job at Citysearch in 1995, an early internet city guide, set the foundation for her tech career. She recounts the rapid evolution of the company and her diverse roles:

"I was never in the same job for more than two of those years. I was rarely even in the same city for more than three or four because it was just constantly evolving."
— Jocelyn Mangan [05:35]

Over nine years, Jocelyn navigated the company's transformation into Ticketmaster, and later OpenTable, gaining invaluable experience in global expansion, mergers and acquisitions, and navigating the public markets.

Overcoming Barriers as a Woman in Tech

As a woman in the predominantly male tech industry of the 1990s and 2000s, Jocelyn faced significant challenges. She was often one of the few women in the room, navigating board meetings and advocating for initiatives like maternity leave policies. Jocelyn shares her experience:

"Having the courage to go into rooms of people who were all men and advocate for an idea was something that I had to get used to."
— Jocelyn Mangan [07:34]

Despite these barriers, Jocelyn emphasizes that she rarely encountered hostility but instead found male allies who supported her growth and initiatives.

Founding Illumine Impact

In 2016, inspired by her experiences and guided by the Henry Crown Fellowship, Jocelyn founded Illumine Impact. Her mission is to solve board diversity by transforming how companies find and appoint board members. Jocelyn explains the genesis of her venture:

"There is a shortage of people who are in the network of opportunities. The qualifications are there, but the access is missing."
— Jocelyn Mangan [12:18]

Illumine Impact addresses this gap by facilitating intimate, authentic networking events and establishing partnerships with investment firms to connect underrepresented talent with board opportunities.

Impact and Achievements

Since its inception, Illumine Impact has made significant strides in diversifying corporate boards. Jocelyn highlights the organization's accomplishments:

"We've made thousands and thousands of introductions... almost 200 [women] direct through our introductions."
— Jocelyn Mangan [17:37]

Illumine Impact has successfully connected over 10,000 women to the private equity and venture capital landscape, demonstrating tangible progress in board diversity.

Launching Illumine: Corporate Partnerships

Expanding her mission, Jocelyn launched Illumine, a sister venture that partners with large corporations to elevate underrepresented executives to board opportunities. She discusses the program's objectives:

"We are putting new and different voices into the top rooms of our corporations so that we can see around corners, so that we can think bigger, so that we can be more innovative and more inclusive."
— Jocelyn Mangan [19:45]

Illumine works with prominent companies like Netflix, Google, and Microsoft, offering programs like the Board Excellence Fellowship to demystify the board ecosystem and provide executives with visibility and exposure to board opportunities.

The Role of Board Members vs. Executives

Jocelyn delineates the distinct roles of board members compared to company executives. She notes:

"The key difference... is the altitude you sit at. Executives are there to operate the company, while board members are at an oversight level, guiding strategy and ensuring financial viability."
— Jocelyn Mangan [24:23]

Understanding these differences is crucial for executives aspiring to transition to board roles, as board members focus on long-term strategy and governance rather than day-to-day operations.

Personal Board Experiences and Networking

Jocelyn shares her personal journey to securing board seats at companies like ChowNow, Papa John's, and Wag. She emphasizes the importance of personal networks in these processes:

"All three came from personal network connections... similar to your story, and I do think that is most board seats."
— Jocelyn Mangan [26:35]

Networking remains a pivotal element in board placements, underscoring the necessity of building and maintaining strong professional relationships.

Identifying and Leveraging Superpowers

When discussing how to present oneself as a potential board member, Jocelyn advises broadening the perspective beyond current executive roles. She identifies six dimensions of expertise that companies seek and encourages individuals to:

"Think about yourself and your own experience across a broader lens. Translation of your current experience is key."
— Jocelyn Mangan [28:05]

Jocelyn also highlights the value of peer feedback in recognizing one's unique strengths, or "superpowers," that can add value to a board.

Mentorship and Advice

Acknowledging the role of mentors and advisors in her journey, Jocelyn mentions key figures like Mike Sinakis and Joanna Reese who have provided strategic guidance and support. She underscores the importance of having mentors who can push and support you through various business challenges.

"Business is all about how you make people feel. It's that easy and it's that hard."
— Jocelyn Mangan [32:46]

This philosophy, inspired by mentors like Danny Meyer, emphasizes the human aspect of business and leadership.

Balancing Work and Family

Jocelyn candidly discusses the challenges of balancing a demanding career with family life. With two children, aged 12 and 14, she prioritizes authenticity and intentionality in her interactions:

"I'm trying to be there and be intentional instead of trying to do all things to all people."
— Jocelyn Mangan [33:37]

Her approach involves focusing on quality moments with her children while maintaining dedication to her professional responsibilities.

Final Advice and Reflections

Reflecting on her journey, Jocelyn offers heartfelt advice to her younger self and listeners:

"Stay focused on the dream... keep your eyes looking ahead and not look at the limiting factors."
— Jocelyn Mangan [37:07]

She encourages pursuing passions authentically, despite obstacles and setbacks, and staying true to one's vision.

Conclusion

The Leadership Dance episode featuring Jocelyn Mangan offers a profound exploration of leadership, diversity, and the dynamics of boardrooms. Jocelyn's journey from an English major to a tech executive and board advocate illustrates the power of curiosity, resilience, and intentionality. Her work with Illumine Impact and Illumine is making significant strides in diversifying corporate boards, fostering inclusive leadership, and paving the way for future generations.

Jocelyn leaves listeners with inspiring takeaways on identifying personal strengths, the importance of networking, and balancing professional ambitions with personal life. Her story is a testament to the transformative impact one individual can have in creating more equitable and visionary leadership landscapes.

"Stay focused on your dream... none of the jobs I took made sense at the time, but they did always feel like the thing I wanted to go do."
— Jocelyn Mangan [37:07]

Notable Quotes:

• Jocelyn Mangan [01:35]: "I really started to break molds then and was always a very curious child, always kind of wanted to see the world."

• Jocelyn Mangan [05:35]: "I was never in the same job for more than two of those years. I was rarely even in the same city for more than three or four because it was just constantly evolving."

• Jocelyn Mangan [07:34]: "Having the courage to go into rooms of people who were all men and advocate for an idea was something that I had to get used to."

• Jocelyn Mangan [12:18]: "There is a shortage of people who are in the network of opportunities. The qualifications are there, but the access is missing."

• Jocelyn Mangan [17:37]: "We've made thousands and thousands of introductions... almost 200 [women] direct through our introductions."

• Jocelyn Mangan [24:23]: "The key difference... is the altitude you sit at. Executives are there to operate the company, while board members are at an oversight level, guiding strategy and ensuring financial viability."

• Jocelyn Mangan [26:35]: "All three came from personal network connections... similar to your story, and I do think that is most board seats."

• Jocelyn Mangan [28:05]: "Think about yourself and your own experience across a broader lens. Translation of your current experience is key."

• Jocelyn Mangan [32:46]: "Business is all about how you make people feel. It's that easy and it's that hard."

• Jocelyn Mangan [33:37]: "I'm trying to be there and be intentional instead of trying to do all things to all people."

• Jocelyn Mangan [37:07]: "Stay focused on the dream... keep your eyes looking ahead and not look at the limiting factors."

Conclusion

Jocelyn Mangan's episode on The Leadership Dance provides invaluable insights into leadership, diversity, and the strategic navigation necessary to break barriers in corporate boardrooms. Her dedication to fostering inclusive leadership and her strategic approach through Illumine Impact and Illumine exemplify the impactful leadership qualities discussed throughout the podcast. Listeners are left inspired to pursue their dreams with focus and authenticity, while also contributing to a more diverse and innovative corporate landscape.