You have an impressive resume, working for big brands such as The Estée Lauder Companies, Clinique, Bumble and bumble and Bobbi Brown. What inspired you to start your own company?
Thank you! I began my career in the cosmetics industry working behind the counter in Louisville, Kentucky and grew to become a Global Vice President for Education, Artistry and Events responsible for education for over 10,000 people in 120 countries. I realized early on that leaders and managers set the tone for the organization and I set out to study all the psychology of leadership that I could get my hands on. I wanted to understand why some leaders inspired people to want to follow them and why some leaders created resentment and frustration. Creating and teaching leadership, communication, and individual development programs became my passion and I wanted to do it all the time. It was bittersweet to leave the cosmetics industry to create my company, potential, but the good news is most of my clients are part of the cosmetics industry, fashion or luxury retail (although I have loved working with other clients like Sesame Workshop, G.E. and the Library of Congress).
What do you find your clients often underestimate with regard to leadership and communication?
Clients often think they are too busy with projects and deadlines to invest time in leading and developing their teams. This mindset keeps them stuck doing everything and people frozen in place because they are not being developed. With communication, people often avoid tough conversations because they want to be kind. They don’t talk to the person, they wind up talking about them. Nothing could be more unkind. In her best-selling book, Dare to Lead ™ Brene Brown says,”Clear is Kind, Unclear is Unkind.” Nothing ruins a relationship or squelches creativity faster than unreal conversations–the team knows when leaders aren’t being authentic and honest.
With so many budget cuts, should we invest in people development?
Budget concerns about all investments now are real and understandable. Many companies are making the important decision to invest in their team’s development now for a few reasons:
- They know it is their people that will create the strategies to move their business forward in this difficult and turbulent time.
- They care about their team and understand the enormous stress they are feeling due to so much uncertainty.
One of my mom friends said to me, “Our children will remember this time, it will be etched in their memory. How do you want them to remember it?” Her statement changed the way I parent in an instant and it also made me realize that our employees will also remember this time, it will be etched in their memory. They will remember how you treat them at this critical time and they will forever remember leaders who invest in their development despite budget challenges.
How can I drive for results with my team when they are so fragile with all they are facing–global pandemic, racial injustice, and financial insecurity? Shouldn’t I just be supportive?
You can actually do both–drive for results and support your team. In fact, it would be unsupportive to not drive for results because the team needs results to keep the business viable and to preserve jobs. To choose empathy OR results doesn’t serve the individual or the team. Choosing BOTH is very possible and is very courageous.
How can companies create connections, facilitate, and present virtually? What has been your experience switching from in-person to virtual coaching?
It is not surprising that my most popular courses now are how to lead, facilitate, present and conduct meetings virtually. Our team went from delivering face to face workshops and keynotes about 90% of our time and coaching virtually about 10% of the time to 100% virtual workshops, keynotes and coaching. It happened literally overnight. At first, I hated it. I didn’t feel the same connection I do in person. I was so focused on the technology, I wasn’t connecting. I started studying what it takes to create engagement and interaction virtually. Now I love virtual workshops, although I admit I can’t wait to get back to a 50/50 split. I think the key is learning the new skills that work virtually–how to give eye contact by looking at the camera vs your slide and moving the participants to right under your camera so you can see them. Also learn how to encourage conversations by using polls, chat, breakout rooms, etc. In addition to the new skills, remember what has always worked for you–be your authentic self, prepare and plan, don’t just read off slides or lecture–boring. In her book Fierce Conversations, Susan Scott says a conversation starts with “con” because it means “with” in Spanish. You can converse with, not at, people even with the barrier of a screen.
As a coach and teacher, where do you find inspiration from and how have you used this time to better yourself?
As coaches and leaders, we often give so much of ourselves to help others develop. At times, we need to stop and take care of ourselves, because you can’t give to others what you don’t give to yourself or have to give. As an entrepreneur, I often convince myself I don’t have time for my own development. I try to quickly remind myself that unless I am inspired, there is no way I can be inspiring. I take one course each year, just for my own learning. This year, I have invested a lot of time and energy learning how to be an effective virtual presenter and facilitator, but I have also invested a lot of time learning how to be resilient in these crazy times. I am part of an Executive Women Leader’s development program led by Nataly Kogan and Debbie Karch. Nataly is the author of the book, “Happier Now. How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Everyday Moments (Even the Difficult Ones).” The program and the lessons in her book have come at the perfect time for me.
If you could spend a day with anyone who has ever lived, who would it be and why?
I would give anything to spend a day with my Grandmother. She was the best teacher and the main reason I wanted to teach because I saw the impact she made on others. If you mean someone still living, it would have to be Oprah because of her example as a female leader, entrepreneur and difference maker. Ok, I know you said one, but I am also a huge fan of Brene’ Brown. Spending three days learning from her to become a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator was life changing.
What would you tell your 25-year old self?
You will never truly belong anywhere until you are first true to yourself and belong to yourself. Or another way of saying it is quit thinking so much about what other people think and live your life doing what matters to you. What matters most is what you think of your choices.
About Carla iliescu
Carla is the founder of potential, a boutique leadership + coaching firm that creates learning experiences to help leaders and teams realize their full potential. Carla began her career in the cosmetics industry and grew to become a Global Vice President where she was responsible for the development of 10,000+ employees located in 120+ countries. With over two decades of executive leadership experience, team development and coaching, Carla recognizes the transformative impact of courageous leadership on both business results and engagement. She shares her wealth of leadership experience and real-life examples with her clients in order to transform performance. Customization is the key difference with all programs potential provides. The experienced team of consultants create and facilitate bespoke programs including workshops, coaching, strategy, keynotes and executive off-site meetings.
Prior to founding potential, Carla inspired teams as the Vice President of Global Artistry, Education and Events at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Vice President of Learning and Education at Bumble and bumble, Vice President of International Education at Clinique, and Executive Director of Leadership Development. Carla has a B.S. in Business Administration and is a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, Certified Fierce Conversations Facilitator, Gallup Strengths Coach and Mind Gym Coach. Born and raised in Kentucky, Carla lives in New York and is lucky to be Andrew’s mom and loves their new French Bulldog, Buster.
Categorized in: Beauty Declassified