Rosana Burg

I attribute my success to the incredible people who have believed in me and supported me throughout my journey. My mother, who is no longer with us, had a heart for believing in me - she always encouraged me with 'you can do this, just go out there, you can do this.' The man I share my life with today, Don Piero, couldn't have been more supportive. He's been an executive coach for like 25 years and is a very inspirational person who has been there for me every step of the way. He told me something that really resonates: 'Rosanna, nobody makes it on their own. We all need to help each other.' My son Eric has given me the spirit to be the best I could be for him. When he was born, he changed my life. I remember rocking him at 2 or 3 in the morning, and when I stuck my finger out, he grabbed my finger with his little hand - he grabbed my heart. In that moment, I promised him to give him the best life I possibly could. I would study most of the nights, take care of him in the mornings, go to work, and finish a master's degree because I wanted to make sure I could always provide for him. He's always been a source of inspiration for me, and it's just great to see that he's a good man. These people in my life have made me who I am today.

The best advice I've received came from Don Piero, my partner, who told me: 'Rosanna, nobody makes it on their own. We all need to help each other.' This has shaped how I approach leadership and coaching. It's reminded me that we all need people in our lives who believe in us and support us, and that asking for help and collaborating with others is not a weakness but a strength. My mother also gave me invaluable encouragement throughout my life, always believing in me and telling me 'you can do this, just go out there, you can do this.' That belief from others has been instrumental in my success.

I would say, believe in yourself, be confident. As a woman, do you almost have to be doubly good? Yes, you do. You do have to prove yourself, but don't let anybody define who you are. It's that strength you carry within. The greatest journey is the one that stretches you and the one that demands all of you. Out of that, it will come just the best part of you and the fighter in you. You gotta have a little bit of everything. I also want to tell women that women don't have to become men. You don't have to acquire all the masculine skills to be a leader. There's tremendous strength and tremendous perspectives that women bring to the field. It's almost kind of our duty to make an example of them, because I think we make really good leaders. I'm not saying I forget men - men are very valuable and they offer great things - but don't worry about competition. Focus on what you're doing. Be good at what you do. Just make sure you're being authentic, having integrity, and bringing your best self to the table every day.

I think we have tremendous challenges coming up with the adoption of AI. One of the things that I think we're all missing is our own thinking and wisdom. I listened to a meeting where a question came up, and they said, 'well, let's check with ChatGPT.' Then you saw everybody in the group checking their GPT. We're losing our ability to think deeply. I think ChatGPT and AI are wonderful tools, but that's what they should be - wonderful tools. They shouldn't be something we automatically go to and say 'wow, ChatGPT, lead me.' Where's our thinking going? Where's the knowledge and information and wisdom? The opportunity I see is creating spaces where we can have honest conversations with leaders of various industries and facilitate an environment of trust. I want to encourage leaders to talk about their real struggles, not just their wins, and help them step out of performance roles and into truly showing up as human beings. We need to get back to deeper thinking and real human connection in leadership.

My two biggest values are integrity and authenticity. You gotta be authentic in everything you do. I also think you gotta have a generous spirit, because people are going through all sorts of things, and having a spirit of generosity towards them is so important. You need the ability to listen, to be honest, to be true, and to be present. I bring generosity because there's always that give and take, and you just gotta look at people with love. When I look at what I'm doing, when I look at people I'm helping, there's the love for people. I want the best for you, and I will do all I can to facilitate an easier path or a better path. I'm not responsible for your success - you are - but I will certainly be that facilitator that leads so you'll see it in yourself.