August 7, 2024 • 36 mins
In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with TianEn Stephenson, a powerhouse in every aspect of her life. TianEn is not only a dedicated wife and mother but also a career-driven go-getter and servant leader. As a Senior Manager of Digital Products at Accenture, where she recently celebrated her 12th work anniversary, TianEn continues to make significant strides in her field.
Growing up with dreams of becoming an industrial engineer like her uncle, TianEn ultimately chose to follow her heart into the world of business. Her background as a former track athlete powerfully influences her approach to life and work, embodying the track mentality to overcome obstacles with her go-to affirmation, "I got this."
TianEn’s story is one of passion, resilience, and transformation. She's not just an inspiring author and a budding entrepreneur, but a true example of leadership in action. Connect with TianEn: Website: www.tianenstephenson.com Instagram: @asktianen Purchase TianEn's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/gXACO77
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Episode Transcript
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Angela Harris (00:00):
Music. Welcome to the flow podcast, fearlessly
(00:09):
leading our way. This podcast isa space dedicated to
spotlighting the unfilteredvoices of black women in their
unique leadership journeys. I amyour host, Angela V Harris, I'm
an award winning coach, speaker,author and champion from black
(00:32):
women. Make sure you like andsubscribe to this podcast to
stay connected to ourconversation, let's get ready to
Hello everyone, and welcome backto the F.L.O.W. podcast, where
flow.
(00:58):
we dive into the journeys ofinspiring black women leaders
who are shaping their industriesand communities. I am your host,
Angela V Harris, and today we'recelebrating a special milestone,
500 downloads since our launch.I'm so honored that you've been
(01:18):
on this journey with me, and Iwant to thank you for all of
your incredible support intoday's episode, we have the
pleasure of speaking with TianEnStephenson, a powerhouse in
every aspect of her life. TianEnis not only a dedicated wife and
mother, but also a career drivengo getter and servant leader as
(01:42):
a senior manager of digitalproducts at Accenture, where she
recently celebrated her 12thwork anniversary, tianan
continues to make significantstrides in her field. Growing up
with dreams of becoming anindustrial engineer like her
uncle, TianEn ultimately choseto follow her heart into the
(02:02):
world of business. Herbackground as a former track
athlete powerfully influencesher approach to life and work,
embodying the track mentality toovercome obstacles with her go
to affirmation. I got this.TianEn's story is one of
passion, resilience andtransformation. She's also a
(02:28):
true example of leadership inaction. Tune in as we explore
TianEn's journey insights andthe lessons she's learned along
the way. Welcome to the show,TianEn,
TianEn Stephenson (02:42):
thank you for having me.
Angela Harris (02:45):
Well, I'm so excited to dive into this
conversation. I know howpassionate you are about career
development, so I know ourlisteners are in for a true
treat today, I want to startfrom the beginning. What career
did you envision for yourself asa child?
TianEn Stephenson (03:04):
As a child, I saw myself as being an actress a
model, but by time I got to highschool, I really wanted to be an
industrial engineer, followingmy uncle's footstep as he has
his own engineering company inAtlanta. So I went through all
of these engineering programs atdifferent universities, such as
University of Denver, Georgia,tech, SMU and a few others. And
(03:29):
thought I was going to followthat footstep, but when I got to
college, I switched over tobusiness. So dramatic change, I
really thought to follow myheart and because at some point
I saw myself being anentrepreneur or just, you know,
needing some type of businessknowledge. So there was a
definite shift. But thenobviously my career went a whole
(03:50):
different direction.
Angela Harris (03:52):
I love what you said about following your heart,
because I know oftentimes wekind of talk ourselves out and
doing stuff like that. We hearthose voices or those rumblings
and we're like, No, and I knowI'm guilty of that myself. So
when I started college, I was acomputer science major, but I
felt like I should have startedas information systems. Ended up
making a switch, but again, Iignored that gut instinct that
(04:12):
said, Do information systems? SoI love how you instinctively or
intentionally followed yourheart from the beginning. Yeah,
TianEn Stephenson (04:20):
it was a impulsive decision, I would say,
the day of registration, I askedmyself, is this truly what I
wanted to do? You know,referring to engineering, and
the answer was no. And so Iasked myself, all right, what
can I go to school to reallylearn that will be useful? When
business popped in my head,which was the best decision,
because I'm using a lot of thatknowledge now, a lot of the
(04:44):
lessons that I've learned, eventhough now I'm doing digital
technology consulting andwhatnot, but there's a lot of
leadership, people, management,finances, things like that, that
I'm leveraging every single day.When I when I go to work, yeah,
Angela Harris (05:02):
you're you're leveraging those transferable
skills. So many people talkabout you don't have to have the
domain knowledge. You can alwayslearn the domain knowledge, but
the transferable skills areuniversal, right? I know you
joined Accenture right out ofcollege. Tell us what drew you
to that company.
TianEn Stephenson (05:20):
So a family friend told me about Accenture.
Right when I graduated, she justjoined the company herself, and
I ended up going to a networkingevent and fell in love. It was
just the fact that I was in aroom of very smart people, and I
was like, Hey, this is somewhereI can learn and I can advance
myself and just, you know,absorb from all of these people.
(05:44):
And so that, that what reallydrew me to Accenture was the
fact that I can learn so much.And really wanted to grow pretty
quickly.
Angela Harris (05:56):
So networking, I want to, I want to touch on that
a little bit as a collegestudent, how did you know how to
approach that event? What wasyour strategy going into it?
TianEn Stephenson (06:07):
Um, it was really just to meet people and
ask people about their journeys.Because I was starting out, I
just didn't know what path Iwanted to take. And so hearing
people's journeys and the factthat everyone's journey was so
unique, really drew me into themand wanted to know more about
them. And you know whatpotential path I could take at
(06:28):
Accenture.
Angela Harris (06:30):
So here curiosity is getting curious and
exploring. Yes,
TianEn Stephenson (06:35):
I was very curious. I was a sponge. You
know, fresh out of college, Iwas like, hey, what's next? What
can I do? And just seeing thepotential for growth and and
just adventure, you know thatthat was huge for me when I
first joined Accenture,
Angela Harris (06:53):
okay? And I know Accenture is such a large
company, what were some of theobstacles you had to navigate as
you were trying to grow yourcareer as an early graduate.
TianEn Stephenson (07:02):
So right when I joined Accenture, I was able
to get on my first project, butthen a month later, I found I
was pregnant. So that was a bigsurprise for me, you know, a
true blessing, but a definitesurprise, because I was just
starting out, and I'm like, Howam I supposed to navigate now
with the kid and and stillwanting to advance my career?
(07:25):
And the interesting part aboutabout when I would talk to some
of my mentors, especially thewomen, a lot of people didn't
know how to help me, in a way,because I was an analyst and,
you know, and I'm having a baby,a lot of women at the firm were
more advancing their careers hityou know, was able to get into
(07:47):
leadership roles by time theyhad their first child. So I was
in a unique position that I waslike, All right, we're going to
make it work some way. Somehow,I must still continue on my
journey, and thankfully, withthe support of my husband and
the support of my family, itallowed me to, you know, juggle
(08:07):
both arenas of my life, as faras being a mother, a YA but then
also be a career woman.
Angela Harris (08:15):
Well, you definitely made it work, because
you had a very successful careerall the years that you've been
at Accenture.
TianEn Stephenson (08:22):
Yeah, it's been a true blessing. And what
I've learned from that firstexperience, people were willing
to support me from the verybeginning. You know, I went to
my manager at the time, and shewas a mother of two kids, and
she answered all my questionsand really brought down my
anxiety. She made me feel that,hey, I had a support system at
(08:44):
that project. You know, if I hadmy doctor appointments in the
middle of the day, she was like,Hey, go take care of what you
got to take care of. I knowyou'll get the work done. You
know, she really had trust andconfidence in me, still doing my
job very well, and also be ableto take care of myself first. So
I was able to be an example fora lot of other women that came
(09:06):
after me. Some other managershave said other women, you know,
that were either analysts orconsultants and were trying to
navigate being a new mother, butthen also a new joiner at the
company. And so I'm happy that Iwas able to be that example for
folks just because they hadsomeone to look to, whereas I
(09:27):
kind of struggled a little bitfinding that exact support
system.
Angela Harris (09:32):
Yeah, you're definitely a trailblazer in that
aspect. I heard you say you hadmentors very early on in your
career at Accenture, how did youidentify those mentors?
TianEn Stephenson (09:44):
So the very first mentor I had was the
family friend that that led meto Accenture. You know, she was
a safe space because she knew mesince I was, you know, like
five, six years old, so sheknows who I am, and I could be
very honest and old. Open withher, but then I met a few other
folks that you know were veryopen with information, and
(10:08):
that's how I kind of gage ifpeople were mentors or coaches,
when they were free flowing withinformation. You know, they
didn't just give me a yes no orshort answer, but they would go
a little deeper into theresponses, or even post
questions to get to know me alittle bit better. So I think
when we really develop thoserelationships, that's how I knew
(10:31):
someone was really in my corner.
Angela Harris (10:35):
It takes work and intention to develop those
relationships. You can't justmeet a person and automatically
think things are going to blowor blossom from there, you have
to put in the work for sure.Well, I know as a consultant,
you have to navigate twocultures, your your culture at
Accenture, and also the cultureof your clients. So what are
some of the key skills you feelconsultants need to have?
TianEn Stephenson (11:00):
The biggest thing I would say is
communication, you know, bothverbal and written. But the fact
is, understanding, what are thekey goals for the client, how?
How does your role play into thebigger picture, but then also
building that relationship andtrust. You know, we have this
quotient, you know, equationaround that, the trust equation,
(11:22):
where we talk about credibility,reliability, dependency, and
really showing up every singleday and showing and say, Hey,
what are some of the quick winsthat we can instill that trust
with the client, and they canlean on us as true advisors and
also true partners, and not justas the contractor or the
(11:45):
consultant. Okay,
Angela Harris (11:50):
so you're at Accenture, your new mom, your
wife. You're building thesementorship relationships. When
did you know you wanted to moveinto a management position?
TianEn Stephenson (12:00):
So that very first project that I was on, I
was, I had the pleasure of beingthere for two and a half years.
So after I had the baby, I cameright back to that project. So
it gave me that sense of comfortand also that building that
confidence. And my manager, shewas, I guess, she was confident
in me to offer me a leadershiptype role as the defect manager.
(12:25):
So I started as a applicationtester, and then there was an
opportunity to move up on theproject as the defect manager to
where I was leading the testteam in managing the defects,
closing them out, getting theresolve but then also having
those regular touch points withthe clients in a lot of their
(12:47):
leadership. So that reallyshowed me that I can do it as
far as leading people andleading towards the goals and
showing up and and that reallywas very telling, because I was
able to accomplish everythingthat I wanted, as far as you
know, hitting the target closurerate. You know, we had a target
(13:08):
closure rate, I want to say,about 95% and I was able to get
it to 98% Wow. Then I was ableto get promoted twice on that
project. So I went from analystto senior analyst to consultant
in, you know, a very short time.And then I was like, Alright,
what's next? And and had thetrajectory of becoming a manager
(13:31):
in in sight, you know, at firstwhen you're an analyst, it's
like, okay, managers for, youknow, five years down the line.
But as I was getting closer tomanager, I was like, Okay, maybe
it isn't as far as I thought.Maybe this is something that can
happen a lot sooner, orsomething that is within reach.
(13:53):
And so when I got to consultant,I had my eyes on manager as that
was the next level for me andand felt that I could do it. I
Angela Harris (14:05):
heard you talk about building your confidence.
What are some tips andstrategies you can share with
the listeners who to help thembuild their confidence.
TianEn Stephenson (14:15):
One of the biggest things for me is that
affirmation. I had to do a lotof affirmation in high school
because I had a lot of selfdoubts, or just had to boost
myself up versus having otherpeople boost me up. So in high
school and college, I ran track,and that was one of the key
(14:36):
areas that started that selfaffirmation piece. So my main
event was the 300 hurdles. Andas I come to a hurdle, I have to
tell myself, I got this, I gotthis to to help push myself and
accelerate going into the hurdleso I can keep my speed coming
(14:56):
off the hurdle. And so I kind ofcarry that same mentality. Me
when I go to work, especiallywhen there's a new role, because
it's so new, you don't know whatto expect. I have to tell myself
I got this, I got this, and thenI have other affirmations too,
but that's like the key one thatI use on a regular because it
(15:16):
gives me that extra boost, thatextra momentum to, like, dive
into a new work assignment, ordive into a report, dive into
anything that I gotta get readyfor. I'm like, I got this, I got
this, and then, you know, beable to attack it with a
vengeance. So that's like, oneof my key things. But then other
(15:37):
ways to boost my confidence, ifit's a speech that I'm about to
give, I try to run through someof my points with some of my
friends or confidantes to makesure, like, Hey, am I hitting
the key points? Am I getting theright message across? So I
leverage my network or leveragemy mentors to use it as a safe
(15:59):
space to make sure, like, I'm myhead is on the right track, or
I'm approaching things the rightway, and then I can enter that
new space knowing that, hey,I've done my due diligence, I've
done the homework, I'm ready forwhat's to come.
Angela Harris (16:17):
Yeah, I knew you were athletes. I was going I was
curious, like, how being anathlete impacts the way you
approach your career. Soundslike you still have that
mindset? Yes,
TianEn Stephenson (16:29):
I still carry a lot of the track mentality in
my daily life. Whether it'salright looking at it for a long
haul, like a marathon, shortstints. It's like I, you know, I
got one hour to get XYZ done.How much can I actually attack
what needs to get done?Prioritization is trying to
(16:53):
organize my thoughts in my heada lot of the times, and just the
approach to things, because I'mbeing pulled in so many
different directions in my lifethat I do have to get that
focus. Just like on the track,there's a lot of focus. Lot of
times you cannot worry aboutwhat's happening in the other
lanes. You keep a little bit ofa purview of it. But the way I
(17:18):
look at a lot of things is meagainst the clock on the track?
Is you against that stopwatch?The competition is cool, and it
can help pull you through, butit's always me against that
clock. Me trying to get apersonal best, me trying to go
after the goals that I have forthe race, whether it's hey,
let's get a faster start, orcome home stronger. I look at it
(17:43):
that way, to keep perspective asfar as, what am I trying to get
out of the day for myself or theproject or, you know, what are
the things that need to get donefor my family? So it's it's a
perspective or a mindset that Icontinue to carry on a daily
basis, and I think that's howI'm able to accomplish the
(18:04):
things I've been able to dothroughout my career.
Angela Harris (18:08):
Yeah, I love that. First of all, you got to
stay focused. And when you seethat hurdle, just tell yourself
you got this
TianEn Stephenson (18:13):
Yes.
Angela Harris (18:16):
Well, I know you had several roles within
Accenture. What do listenersneed to know when they're making
internal moves within a company,should they be negotiating their
salary increases?
TianEn Stephenson (18:27):
So there's two different pieces to that. So
looking for roles, in general, Ilook at it as, what is the goal
that I'm trying to get out ofthat role, whether it is, hey, I
want to learn a new skill, orthis may be a leadership
opportunity. So I look at itthat way, and seeing what is the
(18:51):
short term goal and what is thelong term goal? Because a role
can be six months, per se, ifit's like, hey, the goal is to
get to a go Alive Day. Let's,let's get that there. But then
also, how can this role build meup? As far as a promotion? You
know, I had a role that wasliterally six months as a test
(19:13):
architect, and I leveraged thatrole to get me promoted, even I
was six months, but I was ableto get what I needed to get
done, get the right support toto take on more responsibilities
in that role, besides just beinga test architect. But then also,
like you said around the salarynegotiation, yes, there, there's
(19:35):
always opportunity to to takestakes in inventory of your
value. So I've also done thatwith a different role, where I
got promoted, but then also wasable to get more money and say,
Hey, I would like it to get anassessment on my salary,
(19:56):
because, I think, because I'mdoing X, Y, Z. I'm doing way
more than what my current rolerequires. Can you do a market
assessment? So I've, I've kindof used it, used various roles
to do both and and been able toshow that just because you take
(20:16):
one role doesn't define thelongevity of your career. It's
always a stepping stone, andit's what you make of those
roles to get the most out of itfor yourself.
Angela Harris (20:27):
Yeah, and I like what you said, don't be afraid
to ask for market assessmentwhen you're making those moves
internally. Right? Listen to alot of women, especially black
women, and I know that theystruggle sometimes with
executive presence and the fearof being labeled as the angry
black woman. What advice wouldyou have for navigating that?
TianEn Stephenson (20:52):
So the whole concept of the angry black woman
is not for us to debunker isreally the other person's issues
with us. And the way I look atit is that we show up the way we
know how to show up. That's theonly way we can do we there's no
(21:13):
changing of being a black personand a black woman. So I look at
being a black woman in in inthat concept of being, quote,
unquote angry as Hey, continueto show up if someone has an
issue with me around that thenlet's have a conversation. I'm
always open to talking andeducating others, because some
(21:36):
people just don't know who, butdon't, don't just label me as
such. I take it upon myself, andprobably more than I should, to
help others understand diversepeople, but I find it as a
potential opportunity to connectand to grow together and then
(22:01):
build that energy and synergywith each other so we can be
successful together. I don'twant it to be like, Hey, we're
up against each other, becauseyou think I'm one way, I think
you're another way. No, let'sget to a common understanding.
Let's have lunch and just get toknow each other. Maybe you've
just never been around a lot ofdiverse people, and that's not
(22:23):
your fault. But then you have tochange that too. You have to get
to know other folks and andreally put yourself out there.
And I've had a couple Caucasianfolks come up to me and and be
very open and honest about wherethey you know where they come
from and how they areuncomfortable with some of those
(22:44):
diverse topics, and, and I'm andI'm like, Hey, I appreciate you
bringing that to my attention.Let's talk about it. And, and we
have some really goodconversations and, and we've
become good friends after that.
Angela Harris (22:59):
That was back to what you said earlier about
communication being key andeverything that you do, yes,
TianEn Stephenson (23:05):
and it also, it's also being aware to see
those opportunities to havedeeper conversations, not just
cut it off and just say, hey,this person doesn't like me. No,
let's, let's dive a littledeeper. Let's have a
conversation about yourbackground, your education, you
(23:25):
know, your work experience. Andthen I can also leverage this
new knowledge about this person,say, hey, this person is an
expert in XYZ. This person dohave these key skills that will
benefit the team and be able tokeep this person top of mind if
they have a skill, key skill,um, a key skill set around app
(23:48):
development or projectmanagement, and we can work
collaboratively and make it awin win situation. Yeah,
Angela Harris (23:56):
yeah. Well, I know we have some listeners who
may be mothers, so tell us whathacks you can offer as you
balance being a wife, mother,leader, community leader.
TianEn Stephenson (24:08):
For me, I'm a list person. I keep lists all
day, every day, I keep anotebook where it I can take
everything out of my head andjust jot it on paper, just so it
clears my mind, so I can focuson what I need to get done.
Another hack that I've used inthe past, I created a life
(24:30):
Kanban board. So if you everdone Agile methodology, you have
your Kanban board where thereare swim lanes. So let's say
horizontal lanes. Let's say aslike a swimming lane, and you
put what needs to get done asone column, then what is
currently in progress and whatis completed. So I've done that
(24:54):
with my life, and had colors,sticky notes, you know, purple
for. Personal things. Yellow forProject stuff, red for important
things to grab my attention andand move those things across the
swim lanes. And that helps me,because I'm a very visual
person, so I've, I'veimplemented a few different
(25:18):
things, but those are the twomost consistent hacks that I
continually, continuously use ona regular basis.
Angela Harris (25:26):
I love how you're using agile in your personal
life.
TianEn Stephenson (25:30):
Yes, a true consultant,
Angela Harris (25:33):
yes, yes. You can't turn it off. I want to
shift gears. I know you justpublished your first book,
closed mouth, don't get fed.What was the motivation for the
book?
TianEn Stephenson (25:45):
Wow. So the motivation behind the book, the
the title, first of all, camefrom my dad. So I know a lot of
us have heard that saying, butfor me, my dad said that to me
all the time. He his thing is,closed mouth. Don't get fit if
you don't tell me, how am Isupposed to help you? You know,
how am I supposed to resolve it?I want to be the go to person to
(26:07):
help you with whatever you need.So I took that to heart, and it
really showed up the year that Iwas getting promoted to manager.
And literally, I would havepeople ask me, yo, how were you
able to get that done? Or howare we able to get the client to
say yes to that? And I'll justsay, close mouths, don't get
that. And so when I did getpromoted to manager, I was
(26:30):
reflecting that night, and I waslike, how did I make it to
manager? You know, I'm 28 yearsold. I had two kids, and I was
able to get to manager in lessthan five years. And so just
that state of reflecting, itwent back to that saying, close
(26:50):
mouths don't get fed because Ikept asking questions. I was
always curious. I was looking tohave relationships with people.
If I needed help. I wasn'tafraid to speak up. And so I was
like, I should write a bookaround this. I should be able to
help more people and help themon their journey to be
(27:13):
successful or to learn, to speakup or to ask for what they need
or tell people what they want.And then I just started writing.
Just started writing theconcepts or just bullet points,
and what stories did I want totell around it. And then the
paragraph grew into pages, andit grew into chapters and and
(27:36):
that was like, All right, Ithink I have enough for our
book. So now the book is, youknow, over 55,000 words, a nice,
quick read for for folks. Andit's something that I am proud
and honored to give to people,to give them some type of
guidance. What
Angela Harris (27:58):
are some of the key concepts that you share in
the book.
TianEn Stephenson (28:02):
So I go through a few different things
around getting people in yourboat, getting the right support
system behind you. You don'twant to ask people for help when
you need them, and there's ahigher chance to get a no but if
people know you early on orbefore you need something,
they'll be more inclined to helpyou. I also talk about, you
(28:25):
know, the different versions ofNo, no. Lot of times we do get
that rejection and we don't knowhow to interpret it. I look at
no as just a stepping stone. Ilook at as, hey, maybe there's a
reason behind that No. Sosometimes it could be No, it's
not the right timing, or no, wedon't have enough resources to
(28:47):
help with that. Or you may getenough from the wrong person. So
maybe you need to go find theright person to give you that
yes. And then I also give stepson how to get a yes, how to, you
know, be curious and do theright homework, ask questions at
the question, and build buildthat knowledge into it. So
(29:08):
there's a lot of fun conceptsand very relatable topics to
pretty much everyone.
Angela Harris (29:17):
So walk us through the journey. I know
there may be some listeners whohave that desire to write a
book, but you start, you stop,walk us through the the journey
of you from start to finish, ofyou writing this book.
TianEn Stephenson (29:29):
Yeah. So, like I said, I I, I thought it
would be great to just write abook, and so I just didn't know
what to write about. I did havethe title first, which is
unusual. I knew I wanted it tobe closed. Now don't get that.
And then I just started towrite. What does that really
mean to me? You know, speakingof speaking up to who, what do
(29:52):
you want to be known for? Whatstories in my career? Did I feel
like I did not. I. Closed mymouth, but opened up. And there
were times where I did speak upwhen I was like, Ah, I had some
doubts and I had some fears. Ieven wrote a chapter around that
too, on the fears of asking, whypeople don't ask. And I've had
(30:16):
some of those fears too, whetherit's rejection or, Oh no, I need
to stay in my place, and I stirthe pot. So I I just started
jotting down with the thoughts,but then little by little
expanding on them. And I guess alot of time people wonder, where
did I find the time to write toduring the first draft, I was
(30:39):
traveling a lot so I was on aplane, so I leveraged the plane
ride or the hotel room to do alot of the writing. So when I
was at home, I was fully athome. I didn't want to take time
away from the family. And thenthere were some late nights too.
After I put the kids to bed,I'll go to my laptop, type up
some more thoughts, and justliterally try to write a 1000s
(31:03):
of 2000 words each time I sat.So there were a lot of of that.
And then I had to do a couplemore drafts after that, and then
finding the right supportssystem also helps. So I was able
to find a writing coach to getme through the last draft, and
she was phenomenal. Her name isAngela ransom Jones, and she
(31:27):
really, I guess, bought into myvision and really sat down with
me and kept me accountable andkeeping me on track. So that
also played a big part togetting it to the finish line.
Angela Harris (31:41):
Okay, wow. So looking ahead, what's next for
you, both personally andprofessionally? Where do you see
yourself in the next five years?
TianEn Stephenson (31:52):
So on the professional level, I see myself
getting promoted in less thanfive years to managing director,
which is the top level atAccenture. So working through
what I need to do to to get tothat next level, there's some
some things I gotta work alittle bit harder on, and so
(32:12):
that's something that I'mputting some focus into, on the
profession, on the personalnotes. I see myself writing a
few more books. So I do have achildren's book idea around this
concept, so bringing it to aeasier, digestible version for
kids, so they can build theirconfidence, they can be curious,
(32:36):
and really, you know, go afterthe things that they want to and
no matter what age they're at.So got a couple book ideas on
that. I do have a second bookthat I'm starting to work on. I
don't have a title for it yet,but it's, it's a little bit
different version of my lifethat I really don't see and just
(32:59):
trying to build, you know, buildthe branding around myself. So
that got some other book ideas,also doing more speaking
engagements. So I've been ableto get secure some some speaking
engagements already and andcontinue to just promote the
book as it is.
Angela Harris (33:20):
That is so exciting. I hear the children's
book, another book in the works.I'm so excited for you. Thank
you. Well, Tiana, before we wrapup, I have one final question
for you, what do you do torecharge when you aren't
fearlessly leading
TianEn Stephenson (33:39):
so going back to the core of my system, I run.
If I get 30 minutes in betweenmeetings, I just throw on my
running shoes, go for a 1015,minute job, catch my breath
before I jump onto anothermeeting. Another way I recharge
is just being present with thekids, you know, doing things
(34:00):
that they like, whether it'splaying uno or battleship or
going to the park. So just beingwith the kids keeps me
energized. And seeing them havefun is really rewarding, because
there's there's a innocenceabout them, and just seeing them
being curious and fearless, Ienjoy just seeing the childlike
(34:26):
mentality displayed throughthem.
Angela Harris (34:29):
Well, they have a fearless mom as an example.
TianEn Stephenson (34:33):
Appreciate it.
Angela Harris (34:35):
Well. Thank you so much for joining us today and
sharing your insights with us.How can the listeners stay
connected with you. Yes,
Unknown (34:42):
so listeners can follow me on Instagram and Facebook. My
Instagram handle is asktianen,A, S, k, T, I, a n, e n,
Facebook on TianEn Stephensonand then also, I have a website,
www.tianenstephenson.com,
Angela Harris (35:03):
and where can they go to purchase your book?
TianEn Stephenson (35:05):
They can purchase the book on Amazon or
through my website.
Angela Harris (35:10):
Okay, great. Now make sure I include all the
information in the show notes sothey'll have all those links.
Awesome to our listeners. Thankyou so much for tuning in today.
If you enjoyed this episode,make sure you leave a review and
share it with someone, and don'tforget to purchase Tiana's book.
That's all for today's episode,until next time.
(35:38):
Thank you for listening to theF.L.O.W. podcast as we wrap up
today's episode, always rememberyour unique path, your voice and
your leadership matter. If youloved what you heard. Subscribe
now to stay updated on ourlatest episodes. Take a moment
(35:58):
to leave a review and share thisepisode with someone who can
benefit from theseconversations. You can stay
connected with me on Instagramat @theflowpodcastwithangela, or
visit me on the web atangelavharris.com, until next
time, take care, stay inspiredand keep fearlessly leading in
(36:24):
your own way you.
Music. Welcome to the flow podcast, fearlessly
(00:09):
leading our way. This podcast isa space dedicated to
spotlighting the unfilteredvoices of black women in their
unique leadership journeys. I amyour host, Angela V Harris, I'm
an award winning coach, speaker,author and champion from black
(00:32):
women. Make sure you like andsubscribe to this podcast to
stay connected to ourconversation, let's get ready to
Hello everyone, and welcome backto the F.L.O.W. podcast, where
flow.
(00:58):
we dive into the journeys ofinspiring black women leaders
who are shaping their industriesand communities. I am your host,
Angela V Harris, and today we'recelebrating a special milestone,
500 downloads since our launch.I'm so honored that you've been
(01:18):
on this journey with me, and Iwant to thank you for all of
your incredible support intoday's episode, we have the
pleasure of speaking with TianEnStephenson, a powerhouse in
every aspect of her life. TianEnis not only a dedicated wife and
mother, but also a career drivengo getter and servant leader as
(01:42):
a senior manager of digitalproducts at Accenture, where she
recently celebrated her 12thwork anniversary, tianan
continues to make significantstrides in her field. Growing up
with dreams of becoming anindustrial engineer like her
uncle, TianEn ultimately choseto follow her heart into the
(02:02):
world of business. Herbackground as a former track
athlete powerfully influencesher approach to life and work,
embodying the track mentality toovercome obstacles with her go
to affirmation. I got this.TianEn's story is one of
passion, resilience andtransformation. She's also a
(02:28):
true example of leadership inaction. Tune in as we explore
TianEn's journey insights andthe lessons she's learned along
the way. Welcome to the show,TianEn,
TianEn Stephenson (02:42):
thank you for having me.
Angela Harris (02:45):
Well, I'm so excited to dive into this
conversation. I know howpassionate you are about career
development, so I know ourlisteners are in for a true
treat today, I want to startfrom the beginning. What career
did you envision for yourself asa child?
TianEn Stephenson (03:04):
As a child, I saw myself as being an actress a
model, but by time I got to highschool, I really wanted to be an
industrial engineer, followingmy uncle's footstep as he has
his own engineering company inAtlanta. So I went through all
of these engineering programs atdifferent universities, such as
University of Denver, Georgia,tech, SMU and a few others. And
(03:29):
thought I was going to followthat footstep, but when I got to
college, I switched over tobusiness. So dramatic change, I
really thought to follow myheart and because at some point
I saw myself being anentrepreneur or just, you know,
needing some type of businessknowledge. So there was a
definite shift. But thenobviously my career went a whole
(03:50):
different direction.
Angela Harris (03:52):
I love what you said about following your heart,
because I know oftentimes wekind of talk ourselves out and
doing stuff like that. We hearthose voices or those rumblings
and we're like, No, and I knowI'm guilty of that myself. So
when I started college, I was acomputer science major, but I
felt like I should have startedas information systems. Ended up
making a switch, but again, Iignored that gut instinct that
(04:12):
said, Do information systems? SoI love how you instinctively or
intentionally followed yourheart from the beginning. Yeah,
TianEn Stephenson (04:20):
it was a impulsive decision, I would say,
the day of registration, I askedmyself, is this truly what I
wanted to do? You know,referring to engineering, and
the answer was no. And so Iasked myself, all right, what
can I go to school to reallylearn that will be useful? When
business popped in my head,which was the best decision,
because I'm using a lot of thatknowledge now, a lot of the
(04:44):
lessons that I've learned, eventhough now I'm doing digital
technology consulting andwhatnot, but there's a lot of
leadership, people, management,finances, things like that, that
I'm leveraging every single day.When I when I go to work, yeah,
Angela Harris (05:02):
you're you're leveraging those transferable
skills. So many people talkabout you don't have to have the
domain knowledge. You can alwayslearn the domain knowledge, but
the transferable skills areuniversal, right? I know you
joined Accenture right out ofcollege. Tell us what drew you
to that company.
TianEn Stephenson (05:20):
So a family friend told me about Accenture.
Right when I graduated, she justjoined the company herself, and
I ended up going to a networkingevent and fell in love. It was
just the fact that I was in aroom of very smart people, and I
was like, Hey, this is somewhereI can learn and I can advance
myself and just, you know,absorb from all of these people.
(05:44):
And so that, that what reallydrew me to Accenture was the
fact that I can learn so much.And really wanted to grow pretty
quickly.
Angela Harris (05:56):
So networking, I want to, I want to touch on that
a little bit as a collegestudent, how did you know how to
approach that event? What wasyour strategy going into it?
TianEn Stephenson (06:07):
Um, it was really just to meet people and
ask people about their journeys.Because I was starting out, I
just didn't know what path Iwanted to take. And so hearing
people's journeys and the factthat everyone's journey was so
unique, really drew me into themand wanted to know more about
them. And you know whatpotential path I could take at
(06:28):
Accenture.
Angela Harris (06:30):
So here curiosity is getting curious and
exploring. Yes,
TianEn Stephenson (06:35):
I was very curious. I was a sponge. You
know, fresh out of college, Iwas like, hey, what's next? What
can I do? And just seeing thepotential for growth and and
just adventure, you know thatthat was huge for me when I
first joined Accenture,
Angela Harris (06:53):
okay? And I know Accenture is such a large
company, what were some of theobstacles you had to navigate as
you were trying to grow yourcareer as an early graduate.
TianEn Stephenson (07:02):
So right when I joined Accenture, I was able
to get on my first project, butthen a month later, I found I
was pregnant. So that was a bigsurprise for me, you know, a
true blessing, but a definitesurprise, because I was just
starting out, and I'm like, Howam I supposed to navigate now
with the kid and and stillwanting to advance my career?
(07:25):
And the interesting part aboutabout when I would talk to some
of my mentors, especially thewomen, a lot of people didn't
know how to help me, in a way,because I was an analyst and,
you know, and I'm having a baby,a lot of women at the firm were
more advancing their careers hityou know, was able to get into
(07:47):
leadership roles by time theyhad their first child. So I was
in a unique position that I waslike, All right, we're going to
make it work some way. Somehow,I must still continue on my
journey, and thankfully, withthe support of my husband and
the support of my family, itallowed me to, you know, juggle
(08:07):
both arenas of my life, as faras being a mother, a YA but then
also be a career woman.
Angela Harris (08:15):
Well, you definitely made it work, because
you had a very successful careerall the years that you've been
at Accenture.
TianEn Stephenson (08:22):
Yeah, it's been a true blessing. And what
I've learned from that firstexperience, people were willing
to support me from the verybeginning. You know, I went to
my manager at the time, and shewas a mother of two kids, and
she answered all my questionsand really brought down my
anxiety. She made me feel that,hey, I had a support system at
(08:44):
that project. You know, if I hadmy doctor appointments in the
middle of the day, she was like,Hey, go take care of what you
got to take care of. I knowyou'll get the work done. You
know, she really had trust andconfidence in me, still doing my
job very well, and also be ableto take care of myself first. So
I was able to be an example fora lot of other women that came
(09:06):
after me. Some other managershave said other women, you know,
that were either analysts orconsultants and were trying to
navigate being a new mother, butthen also a new joiner at the
company. And so I'm happy that Iwas able to be that example for
folks just because they hadsomeone to look to, whereas I
(09:27):
kind of struggled a little bitfinding that exact support
system.
Angela Harris (09:32):
Yeah, you're definitely a trailblazer in that
aspect. I heard you say you hadmentors very early on in your
career at Accenture, how did youidentify those mentors?
TianEn Stephenson (09:44):
So the very first mentor I had was the
family friend that that led meto Accenture. You know, she was
a safe space because she knew mesince I was, you know, like
five, six years old, so sheknows who I am, and I could be
very honest and old. Open withher, but then I met a few other
folks that you know were veryopen with information, and
(10:08):
that's how I kind of gage ifpeople were mentors or coaches,
when they were free flowing withinformation. You know, they
didn't just give me a yes no orshort answer, but they would go
a little deeper into theresponses, or even post
questions to get to know me alittle bit better. So I think
when we really develop thoserelationships, that's how I knew
(10:31):
someone was really in my corner.
Angela Harris (10:35):
It takes work and intention to develop those
relationships. You can't justmeet a person and automatically
think things are going to blowor blossom from there, you have
to put in the work for sure.Well, I know as a consultant,
you have to navigate twocultures, your your culture at
Accenture, and also the cultureof your clients. So what are
some of the key skills you feelconsultants need to have?
TianEn Stephenson (11:00):
The biggest thing I would say is
communication, you know, bothverbal and written. But the fact
is, understanding, what are thekey goals for the client, how?
How does your role play into thebigger picture, but then also
building that relationship andtrust. You know, we have this
quotient, you know, equationaround that, the trust equation,
(11:22):
where we talk about credibility,reliability, dependency, and
really showing up every singleday and showing and say, Hey,
what are some of the quick winsthat we can instill that trust
with the client, and they canlean on us as true advisors and
also true partners, and not justas the contractor or the
(11:45):
consultant. Okay,
Angela Harris (11:50):
so you're at Accenture, your new mom, your
wife. You're building thesementorship relationships. When
did you know you wanted to moveinto a management position?
TianEn Stephenson (12:00):
So that very first project that I was on, I
was, I had the pleasure of beingthere for two and a half years.
So after I had the baby, I cameright back to that project. So
it gave me that sense of comfortand also that building that
confidence. And my manager, shewas, I guess, she was confident
in me to offer me a leadershiptype role as the defect manager.
(12:25):
So I started as a applicationtester, and then there was an
opportunity to move up on theproject as the defect manager to
where I was leading the testteam in managing the defects,
closing them out, getting theresolve but then also having
those regular touch points withthe clients in a lot of their
(12:47):
leadership. So that reallyshowed me that I can do it as
far as leading people andleading towards the goals and
showing up and and that reallywas very telling, because I was
able to accomplish everythingthat I wanted, as far as you
know, hitting the target closurerate. You know, we had a target
(13:08):
closure rate, I want to say,about 95% and I was able to get
it to 98% Wow. Then I was ableto get promoted twice on that
project. So I went from analystto senior analyst to consultant
in, you know, a very short time.And then I was like, Alright,
what's next? And and had thetrajectory of becoming a manager
(13:31):
in in sight, you know, at firstwhen you're an analyst, it's
like, okay, managers for, youknow, five years down the line.
But as I was getting closer tomanager, I was like, Okay, maybe
it isn't as far as I thought.Maybe this is something that can
happen a lot sooner, orsomething that is within reach.
(13:53):
And so when I got to consultant,I had my eyes on manager as that
was the next level for me andand felt that I could do it. I
Angela Harris (14:05):
heard you talk about building your confidence.
What are some tips andstrategies you can share with
the listeners who to help thembuild their confidence.
TianEn Stephenson (14:15):
One of the biggest things for me is that
affirmation. I had to do a lotof affirmation in high school
because I had a lot of selfdoubts, or just had to boost
myself up versus having otherpeople boost me up. So in high
school and college, I ran track,and that was one of the key
(14:36):
areas that started that selfaffirmation piece. So my main
event was the 300 hurdles. Andas I come to a hurdle, I have to
tell myself, I got this, I gotthis to to help push myself and
accelerate going into the hurdleso I can keep my speed coming
(14:56):
off the hurdle. And so I kind ofcarry that same mentality. Me
when I go to work, especiallywhen there's a new role, because
it's so new, you don't know whatto expect. I have to tell myself
I got this, I got this, and thenI have other affirmations too,
but that's like the key one thatI use on a regular because it
(15:16):
gives me that extra boost, thatextra momentum to, like, dive
into a new work assignment, ordive into a report, dive into
anything that I gotta get readyfor. I'm like, I got this, I got
this, and then, you know, beable to attack it with a
vengeance. So that's like, oneof my key things. But then other
(15:37):
ways to boost my confidence, ifit's a speech that I'm about to
give, I try to run through someof my points with some of my
friends or confidantes to makesure, like, Hey, am I hitting
the key points? Am I getting theright message across? So I
leverage my network or leveragemy mentors to use it as a safe
(15:59):
space to make sure, like, I'm myhead is on the right track, or
I'm approaching things the rightway, and then I can enter that
new space knowing that, hey,I've done my due diligence, I've
done the homework, I'm ready forwhat's to come.
Angela Harris (16:17):
Yeah, I knew you were athletes. I was going I was
curious, like, how being anathlete impacts the way you
approach your career. Soundslike you still have that
mindset? Yes,
TianEn Stephenson (16:29):
I still carry a lot of the track mentality in
my daily life. Whether it'salright looking at it for a long
haul, like a marathon, shortstints. It's like I, you know, I
got one hour to get XYZ done.How much can I actually attack
what needs to get done?Prioritization is trying to
(16:53):
organize my thoughts in my heada lot of the times, and just the
approach to things, because I'mbeing pulled in so many
different directions in my lifethat I do have to get that
focus. Just like on the track,there's a lot of focus. Lot of
times you cannot worry aboutwhat's happening in the other
lanes. You keep a little bit ofa purview of it. But the way I
(17:18):
look at a lot of things is meagainst the clock on the track?
Is you against that stopwatch?The competition is cool, and it
can help pull you through, butit's always me against that
clock. Me trying to get apersonal best, me trying to go
after the goals that I have forthe race, whether it's hey,
let's get a faster start, orcome home stronger. I look at it
(17:43):
that way, to keep perspective asfar as, what am I trying to get
out of the day for myself or theproject or, you know, what are
the things that need to get donefor my family? So it's it's a
perspective or a mindset that Icontinue to carry on a daily
basis, and I think that's howI'm able to accomplish the
(18:04):
things I've been able to dothroughout my career.
Angela Harris (18:08):
Yeah, I love that. First of all, you got to
stay focused. And when you seethat hurdle, just tell yourself
you got this
TianEn Stephenson (18:13):
Yes.
Angela Harris (18:16):
Well, I know you had several roles within
Accenture. What do listenersneed to know when they're making
internal moves within a company,should they be negotiating their
salary increases?
TianEn Stephenson (18:27):
So there's two different pieces to that. So
looking for roles, in general, Ilook at it as, what is the goal
that I'm trying to get out ofthat role, whether it is, hey, I
want to learn a new skill, orthis may be a leadership
opportunity. So I look at itthat way, and seeing what is the
(18:51):
short term goal and what is thelong term goal? Because a role
can be six months, per se, ifit's like, hey, the goal is to
get to a go Alive Day. Let's,let's get that there. But then
also, how can this role build meup? As far as a promotion? You
know, I had a role that wasliterally six months as a test
(19:13):
architect, and I leveraged thatrole to get me promoted, even I
was six months, but I was ableto get what I needed to get
done, get the right support toto take on more responsibilities
in that role, besides just beinga test architect. But then also,
like you said around the salarynegotiation, yes, there, there's
(19:35):
always opportunity to to takestakes in inventory of your
value. So I've also done thatwith a different role, where I
got promoted, but then also wasable to get more money and say,
Hey, I would like it to get anassessment on my salary,
(19:56):
because, I think, because I'mdoing X, Y, Z. I'm doing way
more than what my current rolerequires. Can you do a market
assessment? So I've, I've kindof used it, used various roles
to do both and and been able toshow that just because you take
(20:16):
one role doesn't define thelongevity of your career. It's
always a stepping stone, andit's what you make of those
roles to get the most out of itfor yourself.
Angela Harris (20:27):
Yeah, and I like what you said, don't be afraid
to ask for market assessmentwhen you're making those moves
internally. Right? Listen to alot of women, especially black
women, and I know that theystruggle sometimes with
executive presence and the fearof being labeled as the angry
black woman. What advice wouldyou have for navigating that?
TianEn Stephenson (20:52):
So the whole concept of the angry black woman
is not for us to debunker isreally the other person's issues
with us. And the way I look atit is that we show up the way we
know how to show up. That's theonly way we can do we there's no
(21:13):
changing of being a black personand a black woman. So I look at
being a black woman in in inthat concept of being, quote,
unquote angry as Hey, continueto show up if someone has an
issue with me around that thenlet's have a conversation. I'm
always open to talking andeducating others, because some
(21:36):
people just don't know who, butdon't, don't just label me as
such. I take it upon myself, andprobably more than I should, to
help others understand diversepeople, but I find it as a
potential opportunity to connectand to grow together and then
(22:01):
build that energy and synergywith each other so we can be
successful together. I don'twant it to be like, Hey, we're
up against each other, becauseyou think I'm one way, I think
you're another way. No, let'sget to a common understanding.
Let's have lunch and just get toknow each other. Maybe you've
just never been around a lot ofdiverse people, and that's not
(22:23):
your fault. But then you have tochange that too. You have to get
to know other folks and andreally put yourself out there.
And I've had a couple Caucasianfolks come up to me and and be
very open and honest about wherethey you know where they come
from and how they areuncomfortable with some of those
(22:44):
diverse topics, and, and I'm andI'm like, Hey, I appreciate you
bringing that to my attention.Let's talk about it. And, and we
have some really goodconversations and, and we've
become good friends after that.
Angela Harris (22:59):
That was back to what you said earlier about
communication being key andeverything that you do, yes,
TianEn Stephenson (23:05):
and it also, it's also being aware to see
those opportunities to havedeeper conversations, not just
cut it off and just say, hey,this person doesn't like me. No,
let's, let's dive a littledeeper. Let's have a
conversation about yourbackground, your education, you
(23:25):
know, your work experience. Andthen I can also leverage this
new knowledge about this person,say, hey, this person is an
expert in XYZ. This person dohave these key skills that will
benefit the team and be able tokeep this person top of mind if
they have a skill, key skill,um, a key skill set around app
(23:48):
development or projectmanagement, and we can work
collaboratively and make it awin win situation. Yeah,
Angela Harris (23:56):
yeah. Well, I know we have some listeners who
may be mothers, so tell us whathacks you can offer as you
balance being a wife, mother,leader, community leader.
TianEn Stephenson (24:08):
For me, I'm a list person. I keep lists all
day, every day, I keep anotebook where it I can take
everything out of my head andjust jot it on paper, just so it
clears my mind, so I can focuson what I need to get done.
Another hack that I've used inthe past, I created a life
(24:30):
Kanban board. So if you everdone Agile methodology, you have
your Kanban board where thereare swim lanes. So let's say
horizontal lanes. Let's say aslike a swimming lane, and you
put what needs to get done asone column, then what is
currently in progress and whatis completed. So I've done that
(24:54):
with my life, and had colors,sticky notes, you know, purple
for. Personal things. Yellow forProject stuff, red for important
things to grab my attention andand move those things across the
swim lanes. And that helps me,because I'm a very visual
person, so I've, I'veimplemented a few different
(25:18):
things, but those are the twomost consistent hacks that I
continually, continuously use ona regular basis.
Angela Harris (25:26):
I love how you're using agile in your personal
life.
TianEn Stephenson (25:30):
Yes, a true consultant,
Angela Harris (25:33):
yes, yes. You can't turn it off. I want to
shift gears. I know you justpublished your first book,
closed mouth, don't get fed.What was the motivation for the
book?
TianEn Stephenson (25:45):
Wow. So the motivation behind the book, the
the title, first of all, camefrom my dad. So I know a lot of
us have heard that saying, butfor me, my dad said that to me
all the time. He his thing is,closed mouth. Don't get fit if
you don't tell me, how am Isupposed to help you? You know,
how am I supposed to resolve it?I want to be the go to person to
(26:07):
help you with whatever you need.So I took that to heart, and it
really showed up the year that Iwas getting promoted to manager.
And literally, I would havepeople ask me, yo, how were you
able to get that done? Or howare we able to get the client to
say yes to that? And I'll justsay, close mouths, don't get
that. And so when I did getpromoted to manager, I was
(26:30):
reflecting that night, and I waslike, how did I make it to
manager? You know, I'm 28 yearsold. I had two kids, and I was
able to get to manager in lessthan five years. And so just
that state of reflecting, itwent back to that saying, close
(26:50):
mouths don't get fed because Ikept asking questions. I was
always curious. I was looking tohave relationships with people.
If I needed help. I wasn'tafraid to speak up. And so I was
like, I should write a bookaround this. I should be able to
help more people and help themon their journey to be
(27:13):
successful or to learn, to speakup or to ask for what they need
or tell people what they want.And then I just started writing.
Just started writing theconcepts or just bullet points,
and what stories did I want totell around it. And then the
paragraph grew into pages, andit grew into chapters and and
(27:36):
that was like, All right, Ithink I have enough for our
book. So now the book is, youknow, over 55,000 words, a nice,
quick read for for folks. Andit's something that I am proud
and honored to give to people,to give them some type of
guidance. What
Angela Harris (27:58):
are some of the key concepts that you share in
the book.
TianEn Stephenson (28:02):
So I go through a few different things
around getting people in yourboat, getting the right support
system behind you. You don'twant to ask people for help when
you need them, and there's ahigher chance to get a no but if
people know you early on orbefore you need something,
they'll be more inclined to helpyou. I also talk about, you
(28:25):
know, the different versions ofNo, no. Lot of times we do get
that rejection and we don't knowhow to interpret it. I look at
no as just a stepping stone. Ilook at as, hey, maybe there's a
reason behind that No. Sosometimes it could be No, it's
not the right timing, or no, wedon't have enough resources to
(28:47):
help with that. Or you may getenough from the wrong person. So
maybe you need to go find theright person to give you that
yes. And then I also give stepson how to get a yes, how to, you
know, be curious and do theright homework, ask questions at
the question, and build buildthat knowledge into it. So
(29:08):
there's a lot of fun conceptsand very relatable topics to
pretty much everyone.
Angela Harris (29:17):
So walk us through the journey. I know
there may be some listeners whohave that desire to write a
book, but you start, you stop,walk us through the the journey
of you from start to finish, ofyou writing this book.
TianEn Stephenson (29:29):
Yeah. So, like I said, I I, I thought it
would be great to just write abook, and so I just didn't know
what to write about. I did havethe title first, which is
unusual. I knew I wanted it tobe closed. Now don't get that.
And then I just started towrite. What does that really
mean to me? You know, speakingof speaking up to who, what do
(29:52):
you want to be known for? Whatstories in my career? Did I feel
like I did not. I. Closed mymouth, but opened up. And there
were times where I did speak upwhen I was like, Ah, I had some
doubts and I had some fears. Ieven wrote a chapter around that
too, on the fears of asking, whypeople don't ask. And I've had
(30:16):
some of those fears too, whetherit's rejection or, Oh no, I need
to stay in my place, and I stirthe pot. So I I just started
jotting down with the thoughts,but then little by little
expanding on them. And I guess alot of time people wonder, where
did I find the time to write toduring the first draft, I was
(30:39):
traveling a lot so I was on aplane, so I leveraged the plane
ride or the hotel room to do alot of the writing. So when I
was at home, I was fully athome. I didn't want to take time
away from the family. And thenthere were some late nights too.
After I put the kids to bed,I'll go to my laptop, type up
some more thoughts, and justliterally try to write a 1000s
(31:03):
of 2000 words each time I sat.So there were a lot of of that.
And then I had to do a couplemore drafts after that, and then
finding the right supportssystem also helps. So I was able
to find a writing coach to getme through the last draft, and
she was phenomenal. Her name isAngela ransom Jones, and she
(31:27):
really, I guess, bought into myvision and really sat down with
me and kept me accountable andkeeping me on track. So that
also played a big part togetting it to the finish line.
Angela Harris (31:41):
Okay, wow. So looking ahead, what's next for
you, both personally andprofessionally? Where do you see
yourself in the next five years?
TianEn Stephenson (31:52):
So on the professional level, I see myself
getting promoted in less thanfive years to managing director,
which is the top level atAccenture. So working through
what I need to do to to get tothat next level, there's some
some things I gotta work alittle bit harder on, and so
(32:12):
that's something that I'mputting some focus into, on the
profession, on the personalnotes. I see myself writing a
few more books. So I do have achildren's book idea around this
concept, so bringing it to aeasier, digestible version for
kids, so they can build theirconfidence, they can be curious,
(32:36):
and really, you know, go afterthe things that they want to and
no matter what age they're at.So got a couple book ideas on
that. I do have a second bookthat I'm starting to work on. I
don't have a title for it yet,but it's, it's a little bit
different version of my lifethat I really don't see and just
(32:59):
trying to build, you know, buildthe branding around myself. So
that got some other book ideas,also doing more speaking
engagements. So I've been ableto get secure some some speaking
engagements already and andcontinue to just promote the
book as it is.
Angela Harris (33:20):
That is so exciting. I hear the children's
book, another book in the works.I'm so excited for you. Thank
you. Well, Tiana, before we wrapup, I have one final question
for you, what do you do torecharge when you aren't
fearlessly leading
TianEn Stephenson (33:39):
so going back to the core of my system, I run.
If I get 30 minutes in betweenmeetings, I just throw on my
running shoes, go for a 1015,minute job, catch my breath
before I jump onto anothermeeting. Another way I recharge
is just being present with thekids, you know, doing things
(34:00):
that they like, whether it'splaying uno or battleship or
going to the park. So just beingwith the kids keeps me
energized. And seeing them havefun is really rewarding, because
there's there's a innocenceabout them, and just seeing them
being curious and fearless, Ienjoy just seeing the childlike
(34:26):
mentality displayed throughthem.
Angela Harris (34:29):
Well, they have a fearless mom as an example.
TianEn Stephenson (34:33):
Appreciate it.
Angela Harris (34:35):
Well. Thank you so much for joining us today and
sharing your insights with us.How can the listeners stay
connected with you. Yes,
Unknown (34:42):
so listeners can follow me on Instagram and Facebook. My
Instagram handle is asktianen,A, S, k, T, I, a n, e n,
Facebook on TianEn Stephensonand then also, I have a website,
www.tianenstephenson.com,
Angela Harris (35:03):
and where can they go to purchase your book?
TianEn Stephenson (35:05):
They can purchase the book on Amazon or
through my website.
Angela Harris (35:10):
Okay, great. Now make sure I include all the
information in the show notes sothey'll have all those links.
Awesome to our listeners. Thankyou so much for tuning in today.
If you enjoyed this episode,make sure you leave a review and
share it with someone, and don'tforget to purchase Tiana's book.
That's all for today's episode,until next time.
(35:38):
Thank you for listening to theF.L.O.W. podcast as we wrap up
today's episode, always rememberyour unique path, your voice and
your leadership matter. If youloved what you heard. Subscribe
now to stay updated on ourlatest episodes. Take a moment
(35:58):
to leave a review and share thisepisode with someone who can
benefit from theseconversations. You can stay
connected with me on Instagramat @theflowpodcastwithangela, or
visit me on the web atangelavharris.com, until next
time, take care, stay inspiredand keep fearlessly leading in
(36:24):
your own way you.
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