Lifting Up: Lessons from Verizon Women Leaders Verizon / WKI Custom

Nasrin Rezai is Chief Information Security Officer at Verizon. As a 25 year veteran in the tech sector - including 17 years in cybersecurity - Nasrin has learned to embrace the benefits of a broad and non-linear career that gave her the ability to learn a little bit about everything. This curiosity coupled with the power of asking “why” opened up opportunities and she urges others never to shy away from asking questions. Nasrin shares how the evolution of her career was also sparked by taking courageous risks, curiosity, and coloring outside of the boundaries.

Karen is Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Business Transformation and Customer Operations. In this episode, Karen describes how she surrounded herself early on with risk-takers and people who wanted to see one another succeed. She shares the value of stretching into new areas and making lateral moves into different business areas to build a more expansive professional portfolio towards new leadership opportunities. Karen also gets candid about her journey to learning to extend herself grace and setting boundaries - reminding us that pauses and boundaries are sometimes what allow us to be great.

Sue Vinci proudly states she has the best job at Verizon as its Chief Privacy Officer. Little did she know a fateful conversation with a headhunter that was supposed to be eight to 12 weeks of litigation support over the summer would turn into a 20+ year career with Verizon. In this episode, Sue candidly shares decisions she’s had to make about her health and the mantra she held onto during that journey. She shares the wisdom and insight she has gained as a result of honoring her whole lived experience - including honoring the fear.

After a 20+ year career as a legal assistant, Jeneen Harris decided to take on a new challenge when she
joined Verizon three years ago. Jeneen, a Sr. Analyst, describes how she had to refresh her mindset and
learn how to embrace tackling new challenges and situations, pushing through that imposter syndrome.
She highlights the critical role mentors have played along her journey that have helped her realize that
leadership is woven and demonstrated at every level. Jeneen reminds how valuable these relationships
are and the importance of recognizing your gifts as a leader, at every stage of your career.

Kristi Midboe Miller was General Counsel of Verizon New Business Incubation, until recently jumping out of the legal arena that she has dominated for decades to a brand new adventure.   Presciently, in this episode, she speaks about allowing herself to take a leap of faith into new spaces - including when new corporate spaces opened up new opportunities.  She shares about discovering and flexing transferable skills while leaning in and developing new ones. Kristi reminds us to be open to new conversations and opportunities because you never know where they might lead us!

Sheryl Suarez is Vice President and Deputy General Counsel in Verizon’s Public Policy Law and Security Group. She spent numerous years practicing general commercial litigation, before her interest and openness to learn about corporations and corporate practice led her to Verizon. In her time here, she has become a more collaborative problem solver as both a legal counselor and business partner in numerous roles.. Sheryl reminds us to inhale confidence and exhale doubt, while resisting the urge to underestimate our abilities: if there’s an opportunity that you think you can manage, raise your hand and pursue it!