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Are you feeling stuck in a predictable career path? Do you struggle to make a strategic lateral move because you're afraid to lose status? In this highly Strategic episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with Melonie Parker, VP of Employee Engagement at Google. Melonie shares her authentic story of navigating a 17-year career at Lockheed Martin through lateral moves and the crucial decision to take a non-promotional role at Google to answer a personal question: Do my skills work in a new industry? Learn her mentorship strategy ("The Starting Five") and why your superpower shines through when you choose to Add In versus Fit In.
Melonie Parker is the Vice President of Employee Engagement at Google, leading global talent and organizational success strategies. With over three decades of experience, including 17 years in leadership roles at Lockheed Martin and serving as VP of HR and Communications at Sandia National Laboratories, Melonie is known for her innovative leadership and focus on culture. She is a proud graduate of Hampton University and serves on the boards of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and her alma mater.
Key Takeaways:
- The Foundational Lesson of Service: Melonie shares the early lesson from her grandfather's country store: "always look at the person in the line, never look at the line". This perspective is the root of her focus on humanity and her approach to HR.
- Lateral Moves Over Vertical Status: Learn why she changed positions every two years for 17 years and why taking non-promotional lateral moves early in your career is essential for gaining the breadth of experience needed to be the most competitive executive later.
- The Starting Five Mentorship Model: Discover her advice on building a Board of Advisors that includes a mentor unlike you (to disrupt your thinking), a peer scream buddy (for safe venting), a personal cheerleader, and a professional coach.
- Add In Versus Fit In: Melonie reveals her crucial personal mantra for navigating new, challenging environments like Google: You don't want to fit in, you want to add in. Your superpower shines through when you contribute your unique cultural competencies and seasoned experience.
- The Generational Village is Everything: Melonie shares her personal story of having her daughter, Lauren, while at Hampton, and how her parents took Lauren in so she could graduate on time. This sacrifice led to a trajectory where her daughter now holds a PhD from Purdue.
Melonie’s journey is a powerful demonstration that success is built one strategic move at a time, supported by a dedicated community. Your current challenge is just preparation for your apex.
Build your Starting Five, seek out a lateral move, and subscribe to No Boxes: Just Verses to guide your next strategic step!
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast!
CONNECT WITH MELONIE D PARKER:
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CONNECT WITH SHANNON:
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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)
32 episodes
