Thriving in Chaos: How to Communicate Under Pressure with Tana Jackson

Speak In Flow

In this powerful episode, Melinda Lee sits down with Tana Jackson, VP of Operations at Upright Labs, to unpack the unspoken challenges women face in corporate leadership. From battling micromanagement and workplace politics to fostering authentic communication under pressure, Tana shares raw insights from her journey and how she’s paving a better way for the next generation of women leaders.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

What "Work Smarter, Not Harder" Really Means

“My passion is problem-solving in chaos—tying loose ends together to create clarity. When you see the success at the end, that’s the ‘wow’ moment.”

• Tana cuts through noise to focus on high-impact priorities (even in back-to-back meetings).

• Her rule for meetings: “No agenda? Don’t invite me.”

The Ugly Truth About Women Not Supporting Women

Tana’s candid take on workplace dynamics:

“I’ve had female leaders rip apart my ideas or take credit for them. It’s detrimental when women don’t lift each other up, especially when we’re asking men to support us.”

• Why toxic managers often know they’re toxic (but ignore it).

• How to recognize when it’s time to walk away from misaligned values.

How to Communicate Like a Leader

“You can’t bulldoze in like a bull in a china cabinet. Explain the why, bring people along, and pass the ‘sniff test’.”

• Early in her career, Tana was told, “Stop asking why, it’s just how we do it.” Now, she insists on transparency.

• How to balance autonomy and guidance.

Effective Communication for Stakeholder Buy-in

Tana’s strategy includes being clear, concise, and understanding your audience to reduce resistance and facilitate stakeholder buy-in.

• Cut the noise: Focus on priorities that align with business goals.

• Align teams with vision: Make it tangible so everyone moves together.

• Support autonomy.

Connect with Tana Jackson

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanajackson2

About the Guest:

Tana is the secret weapon behind scaling companies without losing sanity (or sleep). With 18+ years of experience, she’s mastered the art of aligning teams, optimizing GTM strategies, and driving revenue through data. A recognized leader in RevOps and innovation, Tana believes clarity beats control and that the best teams run on trust (not spreadsheets).

Fun-facts:

• 🎨 Secret double life as an artist (20+ years and counting!)
• 🌿 Plant lady goals – her home is basically a garden
• 🐕 Proud dog mom x2 and human mom x2

About Melinda:

Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.

She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.

Website: https://speakinflow.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow

Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall

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