#127 From Harlem to Harvard: Gisele Marcus's Journey to Leadership Excellence

2B Bolder Podcast : Career Insights & Advice from Succesful Women in Business & Tech

Meet Gisele Marcus, a leadership dynamo whose remarkable journey from Harlem to Harvard Business School epitomizes what it means to be bold in pursuing excellence. Growing up in what she affectionately calls "old Harlem," Gisele was raised in a household where excellence wasn't just encouraged—it was required. This foundation propelled her through Syracuse University, into a Harvard MBA program, and ultimately to becoming a TEDx speaker and respected operations executive.
What makes Gisele's story particularly powerful is her candid admission about learning the true value of networking at age 39. "I wish someone would have told me earlier that excellence alone doesn't guarantee career advancement," she reflects. After following a sponsor's networking advice during an international assignment, Gisele returned to find not just one job opportunity awaiting her, but eleven. This revelation transformed her understanding of career development and now forms the cornerstone of her guidance to other women.
Throughout our conversation, Gisele shares game-changing insights about political astuteness in the workplace, creating a compelling personal brand (hers: "I make organizations hum"), building a career portfolio that showcases your full range of talents, and embracing AI while developing the emotional intelligence that technology can't replicate. For women facing career pivots—whether by choice or circumstance—she offers practical strategies for identifying transferable skills and enlisting friends or coaches to help you see strengths you might miss in yourself.
Perhaps most inspiringly, Gisele defines boldness as "taking that extra step when you're questioning yourself," reminding us that for women, there's no such thing as being "too bold." Whether you're just starting your career journey or looking to make your next strategic move, this episode offers both the practical tools and the mindset shifts needed to truly show up and be bolder in all aspects of your professional life.

Resources:
www.giselemarcus.com

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Chapters

1. Welcome to To Be Bolder (00:00:00)

2. Meet Giselle Markins: From NYC to Harvard (00:01:42)

3. The Power of Excellence and Career Choices (00:12:35)

4. Discovering Operations and Finding Your Mojo (00:19:22)

5. Networking, Career Portfolios, and Personal Branding (00:25:41)

6. Embracing Boldness and Pivoting with Purpose (00:36:24)

7. AI, Emotional Intelligence, and Global Perspective (00:39:09)