In brief:

• Lena Bourgeois, SVP at Equifax, shares her journey of embracing discomfort and turning challenges into opportunities during the GDS North America RevGen Summit.
• She emphasizes the power of changing one’s mindset to navigate uncertainty and lead teams through change positively.
• Lena’s career showcases how discomfort can fuel personal growth and professional success, even in a constantly changing industry.
• Her key takeaways include fostering team unity, embracing change with a positive outlook, and focusing on problem-solving and positive impact.

Change is inevitable, it’s the one constant we can count on. For many, however, change can be uncomfortable. So, how do you embrace change, approach it with a positive mindset, and take advantage of the opportunity that change will undoubtedly present?

We found out during the GDS North America RevGen Summit, where Lena Bourgeois, SVP, General Manager – Automotive and Insurance Services at Equifax shared her experience of navigating uneasy situations and transforming them into positive outcomes, ultimately shaping a successful career…

Table of contents:

“I think we have all felt uncomfortable in our first professional, but also in our personal lives.”

The GDS North America RevGen Summit audience is greeted by Lena with the universality of uncomfortable feelings and how they transcend in various domains. Drawing from her wealth of experience, she emphasizes that discomfort doesn’t have to be negative; in fact, it can be a powerful catalyst for positive change.

“Where it actually starts is changing your own personal mindset.”

The essence of this transformative approach lies in one’s mindset. The executive stresses, “It actually starts with changing your own personal mindset.” How one responds to uncomfortable situations determines their ability to lead a team through evolution. She highlights the importance of being comfortable with discomfort, as it enables one to lead others and steer challenges toward positive impacts.

“Change is opportunity, and chance is also constant.”

Lena shares her career journey, spanning 27 years and featuring numerous promotions. She reflects on how every change or uncomfortable situation presented an opportunity.

“Change is opportunity, and change is also constant”.

Her belief in this principle led her to perceive change as a chance for growth, a perspective that resonated with senior leadership and enabled her to become an invaluable asset to her organization.

Turning to a personal story from her past, Lena recounts her transition from Sweden to the United States. Faced with a lack of credit history, she couldn’t secure a car loan. Lena arrived at the dealership to find her chosen car but was told she didn’t qualify for a loan due to her limited credit history, despite being 26 and having work experience.

Forced to buy with cash, she spent two years building credit and receiving a loan offer. This experience led Lena to shift her perspective, turning challenges into opportunities. Now, she works in the credit bureau for the automotive industry, a journey reflecting her personal growth.

Translating this lesson into her professional life, she also recounts a period of serving two leaders with contrasting visions. Instead of getting paralyzed by conflicting directives, she focused on achieving the common goal and found her path to success.

“If you have a different mindset of turning negativity into positivity it can really propel your career.”

“Turn lemons into lemonade.”

“It’s also what senior leadership look for. We all know that we look for problem solvers, people that can turn lemons into lemonade”. Lena emphasizes that if you can showcase this ability consistently to your organization, you will be “indispensable because change is consent and it happens all the time.”

By contributing positively and providing value during such moments, you not only enhance your worth as an employee but also gain opportunities to assist in challenging and problematic situations. Lena believes that these individuals play a vital role within any organization, functioning as leaders who guide their teams and navigate through adverse circumstances, transforming discomfort into positive outcomes.

Lena’s time as an executive at Equifax brought her more adversity. She says, “We’ve had chip shortage, we have supply chain issues, there are not enough cars, car prices have gone up, interest rates have gone up. And that has been the constant change in my industry.

“But we know what we need to do and how we make sure we have a plan to hedge for those risks. I am very proud to say that my business has grown double digits and in a down market over the last three years.”

Key takeaways

Here are seven of Lena’s key takeaways from her GDS North America RevGen Summit keynote that you can apply to your own business:

Unity in purpose: “Bring the team together.”

“No matter where we sit in the organization, no matter who we serve, who we report into, if we were successful, we all win.”

Lena highlights the importance of unity within a team. Regardless of roles or hierarchies, success is a collective achievement. This shared purpose encourages collaboration and a sense of ownership among team members.

She says, “have a great plan that is well thought through and make sure the team is all on board.”

Shared risk, shared reward

“If you share the risk, you’re sharing the reward.”

Recognizing that challenges and risks are inherent in any industry, Lena stresses the value of a team that stands together to face these hurdles. When the team takes on challenges as a united front, the rewards of success become even sweeter.

She says, “If you don’t have a team that is anchored in their commonalities and a common goal and you have things that distract you from the outside, you will get paralyzed, you will get distracted, and you will never be able to move forward and be successful.”

Navigating volatility with a unified vision

“We came together as a team over three years ago, and we knew that there was going to be a lot of volatility, a lot of economic and environmental uncertainty and an industry that we cannot control.”

Lena reflects on the constant changes and disruptions that the automotive industry faced. By fostering a unified vision among her team, they were able to anticipate volatility and develop strategies to navigate through uncertainty.

Controlling the controllable

“What can we control and what can we not control?”

Amidst external challenges and uncertainties, Lena advocates focusing on what can be controlled. This approach empowers the team to take charge of their actions and decisions, minimizing distractions from external factors beyond their control.

Planning for short-term and long-term success

“We have to deliver short term, but we have to plan long term.”

Lena underscores the importance of balancing short-term goals with long-term planning. While quarterly earnings are crucial, a strategic approach that aligns with broader business objectives leads to sustained success.

Embracing change with a positive mindset

“To deal with change in the moment it happens is hard. So, can you change your mindset? Find the commonality, align your team, and set a plan that you know is going to be successful.”

Embracing change with a positive mindset is key. Lena suggests focusing on finding common ground, aligning the team, and crafting a successful plan even in times of uncertainty.

Problem-solving and positive impact

“Be a problem solver, find the positivity, and look to make that impact.”

Lena encourages proactive problem-solving and maintaining a positive outlook. Instead of dwelling on challenges, she suggests seeking solutions and ways to make a positive impact.

Lena Bourgeois’ journey and leadership philosophy exemplify how successful businesses are built on collaboration, resilience, and adaptability. Her insights inspire us to unite in the face of change, embrace uncertainty with a positive attitude, and drive toward both short-term goals and long-term growth.

“Being uncomfortable is part of part of life. It’s the journey that we have. But being able to manage through the situation well can really serve you in a very positive way.”

As businesses continue to navigate evolving landscapes, Lena’s wisdom serves as a guiding light for achieving sustained success.

Conclusion

In a world of constant change, the journey from discomfort to success can serve as a beacon of inspiration. Lena’s insights illuminate the transformative potential of embracing discomfort, reshaping one’s mindset, and leading with a positive spirit. As businesses navigate evolving landscapes, her wisdom reminds us that within challenges lie opportunities, and through unity, resilience, and adaptability, we can illuminate our path towards sustained success.

Looking for ways to accelerate your sales cycles, engage in industry conversations, and achieve better outcomes? Look no further than our digital summits – our unique 3-day digital event experiences that bring together senior executives and solution providers.

Our recent RevGen North America Summit had Lena as a speaker and ended with an impressive meeting completion rate of 121% against target.

Partnering with GDS Group can help you get in front of the right people at the right time.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to attend one of our unforgettable event experiences that promise to leave you feeling inspired and empowered.

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