Episode 270: Career Advancement 101: The Power of Mentors and Sponsors with Citi’s Erika Irish Brown

With a remarkable career journey that began in investment banking, Erika Irish Brown, Citi’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and Global Head of Talent, shares how seeking guidance and sponsorship from unlikely sources propelled her career, inspiring young professionals to overcome barriers and find success in their own way. As a lifelong learner and dedicated advocate for giving back, Erika understands the importance of mentorship and sponsorship in achieving professional success.

Hailing from a Caribbean family in Brooklyn, Erika's educational background and commitment to lifting up community have played key roles in shaping her successful career journey. In fact, she was brought up with the saying, "To whom much is given, much is required".

As a successful professional in the world of investment banking, Erika Irish Brown knew that something was missing. She wanted to leave a lasting legacy and make a difference in the lives of others, particularly those with diverse backgrounds.

This desire led her to take a leap of faith and transition into the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion, even before it became a recognized field. Along the way, Erika discovered the immense value of mentorship and the powerful role that sponsors play in supporting one's career growth. By harnessing the wisdom and guidance of these influential figures, Erika was able to unlock her full potential and create a lasting impact in her field. Join us to hear more about Erika’s inspiring story.

Visit gobeyondbarriers.com where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Erika.

Highlights:
[02:43] Erika’s path to success and what she’s learned along the way
[10:19] Mentors & sponsors
[18:13] Mentor relationships take work
[18:15] Moving into the DEI space
[25:26] Acculturating & embracing authenticity
[29:40] Making hard decisions
[33:58] Lightning round questions

Quotes:

"I started to be more successful when I started to use my voice and be my authentic self."– Erika Irish Brown

“If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” – Erika Irish Brown

"Nobody does it on their own and unfortunately, very often women and people of color are reluctant to ask for help because they view it as a sign of weakness or perhaps that they are less than." – Erika Irish Brown

“Once you’ve had a track record of success, you can gain traction, and success begets success.” – Erika Irish Brown

"I always felt like there was a business case for diversity from what I had experienced early on and approached it like a business." - Erika Irish Brown

Lightning Round Questions:

What book has greatly influenced you?

- “Becoming” by Michelle Obama

What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?

- “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.” – Shirley
Chisolm

What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
- Resilient & tenacious

What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?

- Working out almost every day, no matter what.

What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?

- "I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan or “Brooklyn Go Hard” by Jay-Z

About Erika Irish Brown:
Erika is Citi’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and Global Head of Talent, responsible for developing global diversity, equity and inclusion strategy and driving Citi’s agenda on talent planning, succession planning and leadership development.

Prior to joining Citi, Erika was Chief Diversity Officer at Goldman Sachs from 2018 to 2021 and Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Bloomberg from 2015 to 2018. Prior to this, she led executive and diversity hiring efforts at Bank of America and Lehman Brothers.

Erika's background includes a range of banking and finance roles, including Head of Business Development for Black Entertainment Television, Senior Associate in High Yield Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley and Senior Policy Analyst for Domestic Finance for the United States Department of the Treasury. She began her career as an Analyst in Public Finance at Lehman Brothers.

Erika is Vice Chair of the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and serves on the Boards of Columbia Business School and the Riverside Hawks.

Erika earned a BS in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Links:

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