Barbara Martin Coppola

You know, woman, young, I was a married back then, and somehow turning that into a positive. I was entrusted with risky projects. I had nothing to lose. And I could play by the rules in a little bit different just because of not being like everybody else. So another interesting moment of reflection on how the difference can actually be a positive.

I think it was more of a mental shift for me. Back then, I had been reporting, interestingly, to women in tech, which was very, very rare. Samsung, I was reporting to the first woman VP in the history of Samsung Electronics. And by observation, first I had examples that I could follow.

I think it was more of a mental shift for me. Back then, I had been reporting, interestingly, to women in tech, which was very, very rare. Samsung, I was reporting to the first woman VP in the history of Samsung Electronics. And by observation, first I had examples that I could follow.

I think it was more of a mental shift for me. Back then, I had been reporting, interestingly, to women in tech, which was very, very rare. Samsung, I was reporting to the first woman VP in the history of Samsung Electronics. And by observation, first I had examples that I could follow.

But also the mentorship that they gave me, I could understand that I couldn't actually very much compete if I was playing by the same rules. Not play by the rules and still bring what I could bring uniquely mine to the table. And giving myself permission mentally to do that was a really important shift. And so somehow it's a liberation of one's mind that allows to go and take risks.

But also the mentorship that they gave me, I could understand that I couldn't actually very much compete if I was playing by the same rules. Not play by the rules and still bring what I could bring uniquely mine to the table. And giving myself permission mentally to do that was a really important shift. And so somehow it's a liberation of one's mind that allows to go and take risks.

But also the mentorship that they gave me, I could understand that I couldn't actually very much compete if I was playing by the same rules. Not play by the rules and still bring what I could bring uniquely mine to the table. And giving myself permission mentally to do that was a really important shift. And so somehow it's a liberation of one's mind that allows to go and take risks.

And at the end, see that it's actually very positive. And it's positive not only for me, but it opens the door to many other people as well.

And at the end, see that it's actually very positive. And it's positive not only for me, but it opens the door to many other people as well.

And at the end, see that it's actually very positive. And it's positive not only for me, but it opens the door to many other people as well.

What I see is many women somehow don't give permission to themselves and are holding back to be ready one day to tackle this job. It's actually thinking if others can do it, why not you? And somehow having the step into the unknown, taking the risk. And it's interesting because it's never how we thought it would be.

What I see is many women somehow don't give permission to themselves and are holding back to be ready one day to tackle this job. It's actually thinking if others can do it, why not you? And somehow having the step into the unknown, taking the risk. And it's interesting because it's never how we thought it would be.

What I see is many women somehow don't give permission to themselves and are holding back to be ready one day to tackle this job. It's actually thinking if others can do it, why not you? And somehow having the step into the unknown, taking the risk. And it's interesting because it's never how we thought it would be.

Once you are walking, then you start experimenting, learning, and you verify that you are more than able to do the jobs and to face the different situations. By definition, nobody is ready before a new job because it's a new job. And so it's actually giving a little bit of a, OK, let's go.

Once you are walking, then you start experimenting, learning, and you verify that you are more than able to do the jobs and to face the different situations. By definition, nobody is ready before a new job because it's a new job. And so it's actually giving a little bit of a, OK, let's go.

Once you are walking, then you start experimenting, learning, and you verify that you are more than able to do the jobs and to face the different situations. By definition, nobody is ready before a new job because it's a new job. And so it's actually giving a little bit of a, OK, let's go.

to then have a full life, lean in, and somehow having through experiences and no regrets, you know, while looking back that, oh, I didn't try because the fear prevented me from doing that.

to then have a full life, lean in, and somehow having through experiences and no regrets, you know, while looking back that, oh, I didn't try because the fear prevented me from doing that.

to then have a full life, lean in, and somehow having through experiences and no regrets, you know, while looking back that, oh, I didn't try because the fear prevented me from doing that.

Listening deeply. For instance, at the job at Decathlon, I spent a couple of months visiting different countries, different stores, warehouses, different functions, and just listening. Listening to the verbal aspect, but also to the cues that were given through things that you can feel.