Leadership Means Advocating for Others w/ Nadine Fakhoury
In this episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity & Company, Scott and Monica Arrieta sit down with Nadine Fakhoury, an executive coach and former Vice President at Cisco. Nadine shares her remarkable journey from engineer to executive, where she became the only female VP in her division, leading a global team of 350 people and managing billions in revenue.
Through powerful personal stories — from being mistaken for the admin in leadership meetings, to advocating for herself in salary negotiations, to creating the first-ever offsite for technical women at Cisco — Nadine reflects on what it means to lead authentically in environments where you don’t always feel you belong. She opens up about the responsibility leaders carry to use their authority, voice, and platform to create opportunities and foster belonging for others.
Nadine also discusses the personal cost of misalignment and burnout, the importance of values-driven leadership, and why her coaching practice is dedicated to helping leaders get unstuck and flourish in complex systems. This is a conversation for anyone who believes leadership is about more than personal success — it’s about building space where others can thrive.
📝 Show Notes
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Nadine rose through the ranks in a male-dominated industry to become a global VP at Cisco.
Why being “the only” in the room shaped her perspective on belonging and advocacy.
A pivotal salary negotiation that sparked her commitment to using her voice.
The story behind organizing a groundbreaking offsite for technical women — and its lasting impact.
The responsibility leaders have to open doors and create opportunities for marginalized voices.
How burnout and misalignment pushed Nadine to reevaluate her career path.
Why coaching is her way of helping leaders navigate complexity with authenticity and resilience.
About Our Guest
Nadine Fakhoury is an executive coach and the founder of Insight Coaching Solutions. She draws on two decades of corporate leadership experience, including serving as Vice President at Cisco, where she led a global team of 350 people and managed over $8 billion in annual revenue. Nadine specializes in helping senior leaders lead authentically, stay grounded in their values, and create meaningful impact while avoiding burnout.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Nadine on LinkedIn
Contact Nadine: nadine@insightexeccoaching.com
Work with Unity & Company: info@unityandcompany.com