Emotional intelligence is a foundational element of effective leadership, guiding individuals to make thoughtful decisions, build strong teams, and resolve challenges with insight and resilience. Leaders who integrate emotional intelligence into their approach are better equipped to understand their surroundings, act decisively, and cultivate an environment where collaboration thrives. This balance of self-awareness and empathy empowers leaders to connect with their teams on a deeper level, creating a framework that values trust, integrity, and diverse perspectives. Emotional intelligence becomes the compass for steering intricacies, ensuring decisions are grounded in ethics and a commitment to doing what is right.
Fabiana Lacerca-Allen, Chief Compliance Officer at Cipla USA, demonstrates this leadership philosophy in her book, “Crisis Capable.” Drawing from personal and professional experiences, the book explores the intersection of emotional intelligence, intuition, and courage in leadership.
“Some things are worth dying for. For everything else, you need a plan.”
These profound words, spoken by Fabiana’s father during her childhood, became the guiding principle of her life. Growing up in Argentina during a tumultuous era of military dictatorship, Fabiana witnessed firsthand the stark realities of a world fraught with danger, where kidnappings were commonplace, and her family lived under constant threat. Yet, even as a young girl, these words instilled a sense of resilience, purpose, and the importance of preparation—values that would shape her extraordinary journey.
In her book, Fabiana recounts her early life amid the chaos of dictatorship, where courage was a daily necessity. She watched her father stand as a beacon of hope, tirelessly working to establish a democratic government. His efforts culminated as the newly elected administration’s first state secretary of industry. Inspired by his leadership and principles, Fabiana resolved to make her mark. She earned her law degree in Argentina and later pursued advanced legal studies in the United States, equipping herself with the tools to steer and influence intricate systems.
Her career reflects the same determination and strategic mindset that defined her upbringing. Over the past three decades, Fabiana has ascended to the highest echelons of global companies, leading compliance and governance initiatives across diverse industries. Her expertise in high- stakes negotiations and value-driven leadership has made her a trusted C-level executive for Fortune 100 companies, a sought-after board member, and an inspiring mentor to emerging professionals.
The book highlights the importance of building diverse teams, making ethically sound decisions, and addressing challenges with clarity and determination. By sharing practical principles, Fabiana empowers readers to embrace value-driven leadership without focusing on her journey. The book also sheds light on how leaders can use diverse perspectives to craft impactful solutions, ensuring they remain prepared to face any situation with conviction.
Today, Fabiana channels her wealth of experience into guiding others. Whether serving on corporate boards or mentoring young leaders, she draws from her remarkable journey to teach the art of situational awareness, effective decision-making, and purposeful leadership. Her story is not just one of personal triumph but a testament to the power of strategy, resilience, and unwavering dedication to making a difference.
Essential Learnings from the Book
The book recounts important moments from Fabiana’s life, including a harrowing escape from a life-threatening situation and a kidnapping attempt at the apartment complex where she received math tutoring. She shares how her father’s teachings, particularly the “Six-Month Rule,” guided her as she steered opportunities in the U.S. Through her journey, she reveals lessons in negotiating for her first relocation package and discovering the importance of self- assessment and self-advocacy.
Fabiana delves into the critical skills of social awareness, explaining how to recognize subtle signals that others might miss, whether in personal life or the workplace. She provides actionable insights on conducting negotiations, managing the ambiguities of “gray areas” where right and wrong are not easily discernible, and knowing when to walk away from situations that conflict with your values.
Focusing on emotional intelligence, Fabiana highlights how we can inspire change, cultivate diversity, and face challenges with confidence and preparation. Readers will emerge from this book equipped to steer life’s intricacies as empowered individuals ready to make a meaningful impact in their lives and the world around them.
Inspiring Leadership and Legacy
Fabiana’s perspective on leadership transcends traditional boundaries, reshaping the narrative around women in positions of power, particularly in male-dominated spaces. As a trailblazer, she exemplifies how resilience, adaptability, and authenticity can help women thrive and lead purposefully. Her journey in corporate America and beyond reflects the transformative potential of diversity and inclusion, which she believes are pivotal to sustainable success. Here are the key aspects of Fabiana’s leadership:
Breaking Barriers: Growing up and advancing her career in a male-dominated environment, Fabiana developed unique skills to succeed. Her unwavering confidence, strategic mindset, and ability to overcome challenges with poise showcase her leadership strength.
Supporting Each Other: Fabiana highlights the importance of women empowering one another. She believes collaboration and mentorship are crucial for fostering an environment where women can lead authentically and confidently.
Leadership Legacy: Fabiana’s remarkable corporate career and her current role on the board of the Red Cross reflect her commitment to making a meaningful impact. She leverages her leadership experiences to inspire others to embrace courage and determination in their journeys.
A Story Worth Sharing: Her leadership philosophy and journey are chronicled in her book, offering valuable insights into navigating challenges and inspiring others to achieve greatness.
Evaluating Team Members for Resilience
Fabiana has expressed that diverse teams in a globalized world bring many benefits. During an interview with Dr. Patti Fletcher for an article on team selection, she explained her unique approach to evaluating team members. She assesses individuals by considering whether they possess the skills and leadership capabilities necessary to adapt and thrive in challenging circumstances. To summarize this, she stated, “I look at them and decide whether I would be kidnapped with them.” This method reflects her focus on resilience and problem-solving aptitude.
She elaborates further on this perspective in her book, “Crisis Capable.” Fabiana asserts that diverse teams consistently outperform others in addressing intricate challenges and resolving issues more efficiently and effectively. By prioritizing diversity, she underscores the practical advantages of assembling teams with diverse perspectives, experiences, and abilities to tackle demanding situations successfully.
The Power of Inclusion in the Workplace
According to Fabiana, diverse teams, which include members from various backgrounds, countries, religions, genders, and experiences, offer several benefits:
- Enhanced Creativity and Innovation: Different perspectives lead to unique ideas and solutions, driving team creativity and innovation.
- Improved Problem-Solving: Diverse teams can approach challenges from various angles, resulting in more effective problem-solving.
- Better Decision-Making: A mix of backgrounds and experiences allows for a more comprehensive analysis of issues, leading to well-rounded decisions.
- Increased Market Reach: Diverse teams can better understand and cater to a broader range of customers, enhancing market reach and customer satisfaction.
- Stronger Collaboration: Embracing diversity creates an environment of mutual respect and understanding, improving teamwork and collaboration.
- Greater Employee Satisfaction: An inclusive workplace can boost morale and job satisfaction, improving retention rates.
- Global Perspective: In a global market, having team members from different cultures helps businesses more effectively address international challenges.
In summary, diverse teams are essential for driving innovation, improving decision-making, and enhancing overall business performance in an interconnected world.
Creating Positive Work Environments
Fabiana has primarily focused her career in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, recognizing their growth potential and positive societal influence. She highlights the importance of working in industries that contribute to meaningful advancements and create tangible benefits for communities. Her approach to leadership and decision-making is guided by a commitment to ethical practices, underscoring the value of doing the right things for the right reasons.
She believes cultivating a positive environment is essential to achieving organizational and personal success. She highlights the role of well-defined rules and consistent consequences in establishing a framework that supports fairness, accountability, and transparency. By maintaining clarity and integrity in her professional endeavors, Fabiana ensures that the teams and projects she is involved with operate efficiently and align with her vision of impactful and responsible work within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields.
Striving for Success with Emotional Insight
She surrounds herself with individuals who exhibit emotional intelligence, demonstrating a keen understanding of their environment and a strong connection to their instincts. She values passionate people, possesses the courage to act ethically, and displays grace and empathy in their actions. For Fabiana, it is essential that these individuals strive for success, accept setbacks with resilience, and approach challenges with strength, capability, and confidence.
When selecting team members, Fabiana prioritizes emotional insight, recognizing the importance of understanding one’s own emotions as well as the feelings of others. She appreciates resilience, passion, and a sense of joy, believing these qualities contribute to well-rounded and effective team dynamics.
Fabiana takes pride in her assembled team, highlighting their unmatched qualities and unique synergy. She confidently states that her team is among the best in the industry, a reflection of her thoughtful approach to building a group capable of excelling together in any circumstance.
Leading with Compassion and Confidence
Fabiana advises leaders facing challenges with their teams to embody the qualities they admire and respect in a leader. She underscores the importance of being kind and compassionate to oneself and others and cultivating self- belief and confidence. Fabiana encourages leaders to thoroughly understand their strengths and weaknesses and those of their team members to cultivate mutual growth and efficiency.
A fundamental principle she shares is never to expect anything from others that one would not be willing to do themselves. Leading by example establishes trust and sets a standard of accountability within the team. Fabiana also highlights the importance of listening to advice, considering diverse perspectives, and using this insight to make well- informed decisions.
Finally, she urges leaders to remain constant in standing up for what is right, even in challenging situations. By adhering to these principles, leaders can effectively inspire their teams and overcome obstacles.
In Conclusion,
Fabiana’s leadership philosophy, captured in her book Crisis Capable, highlights emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making, and authenticity as drivers of sustainable success. Drawing from her experiences growing up in politically turbulent Argentina and her career as a global compliance leader, Fabiana advocates for resilience, inclusivity, and value-driven leadership. Her book serves as a memoir and a guide, offering actionable insights and vivid anecdotes to inspire leaders to steer intricacy with empathy and integrity.
Fabiana stresses the importance of building diverse, resilient teams by assessing emotional intelligence and adaptability, ensuring they are equipped to overcome challenges. Her approach cultivates innovation, more decisive decision-making, and broader market reach. As a mentor, she empowers women to break barriers in male- dominated industries, championing self-advocacy and authentic leadership.
Her vision for the future centers on inclusive leadership that drives meaningful change promotes diversity and leverages emtional intelligence to create environments of mutual respect and innovation. Fabiana continues to advocate for ethical practices and collaborative success through her roles on boards like the Red Cross and her mentorship of emerging leaders. Her work is a call to action for leaders to embrace courage and integrity, transforming organizations and achieving lasting impact.
