Life and Work with Marisol Rodriguez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marisol Rodriguez.

Marisol, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began the world of consulting fresh out of college. I worked for my sorority for a year traveling all over the country training and helping chapters improve. That job took me back to DC, where I landed a job as a consultant for a boutique consulting firm where I was able to grow as a facilitator and strategic planner. What I quickly learned was that while I loved the work, I had little passion for the Federal Government. So I went back to school and got my Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management. After that I went to work for a national nonprofit and then a national foundation.

After having my daughter I realized I wanted something different. I missed facilitating groups, watching teams come together, and seeing leaders grow. This led me to branch out on my own and co-found Insignia Partners.

Insignia Partners is currently in its seventh year of operation and I pinch myself every day for how lucky I feel to have been able to start and sustain this life. Our client base continues to grow and former clients have come back for new or updated work. Not every client or project is a breeze, but I truly believe the work we do helps organizations become stronger and more strategic, which allows them to better fulfill their mission and change the world.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We do this work because we want to make a difference in the world. Sometimes we find that clients hire us for one thing, but really need something else. Other times clients call us and need help right away, but we simply don’t have the capacity to take on more work at that time. Finding the balance of the work you want to do, learning to say “no”, and maintaining a level of quality you want to ensure is a balancing act that is always present.

For anyone who wants to do this work, know that you have incredible support around you if you tap into it and ask for help. Women are amazing and women business owners often want to build up others, so find your tribe and lean on them when you doubt yourself.

Please tell us about Insignia Partners.
Insignia Partners helps mission-driven organizations get better at changing the world for good, by holistically improving the three key drivers of their teams’ performance: strategy, leadership and teams, and culture. So we see our work like this:

Strategy Aligned to Results: As an organization, your purpose is clear. Now it’s time for your stakeholders to find their place in bringing your mission and vision to life. That’s why people are at the center of our strategic planning work. Our approach artfully integrates diverse perspectives to ensure a wide variety of stakeholders are seen and heard, contribute meaningfully to the process, and embrace your new strategies throughout implementation.

High-Performing Leaders and Teams: Our leadership work helps new, emerging, and seasoned leaders increase their effectiveness. We work one-on-one and in a variety of group, settings to help leaders and teams identify their leadership style, strengthen their skills, address blind spots, and improve relationships with direct reports, peers, and their own managers.

Thriving Culture: We guide leaders and teams through the process of cultivating an intentional organizational culture — one that has a profound influence on the decisions, behaviors, and interactions that drive your team’s daily accomplishments.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Don’t stray from your core. Get really clear on your “why”. Follow your passion.
Know that you are just as capable, just as likely to succeed, just as smart as everyone you admire. But learn, listen, and be humble. And never forget those that paved the way before you. I have learned an incredible amount from women who did this 20 years ago – they are my mentors and push me to be better.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://insignia-partners.com/
• Email: marisol@insignia-partners.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsigniaPartners/

Image Credit:
Paul Andrews Photography

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