Learning Objective: Discuss traits that help develop and expand your leadership repertoire Are leaders born or made? How do aspiring managers succeed in an ever-changing business environment? How do they lead diverse groups? This seminar will explore how great leaders manage collaborative teams, team negotiations, and workplace conflict. At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to: a. Discover the power of storytelling and other communication strategies. b. Explore and analyze leadership styles. c. Identify how organizations can optimize groups and develop a game plan for effective negotiation.

2. High Performance
Collaboration
Leadership, Teamwork, and
Negotiation
The Leader Growth Mindset
Natasha R. Williams- Centene Corporation
Lymari Castro- National Security Agency (NSA)

3. Learning Objectives
 Discuss traits that help develop and expand your leadership repertoire
 How do aspiring managers succeed in an ever-changing business
environment?
 How managers lead diverse groups?
 Explore how great leaders manage collaborative teams, team
negotiations, and workplace conflict

4. Background
Lymari Castro
STEM Technical Leader-
Systems Engineer-
Scaled Agile Architect
National Security Agency
Contact
Training
BS. in Physics, UPR Lean and Agile Methodologies
Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe),
Large Scale Scrum (LeSS), Scrum at
Scale, KANBAN, Lean Systems Engineering, Lean
Startup
Design Thinking Methods
Techniques for problem solving using creativity,
collaboration using a human-centered design approach
Email
lcastr2@radium.ncsc.mil
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/in/
lymaricastro
Master in Engineering
Physics, Cornell
University
Masters in Systems
Engineering, Stevens
Institute of Technology
22 years of Systems
Engineering Experience (3
years in private industry
and 19 years at NSA)
Experience
Education
Certifications
Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Consultant
Enterprise Business Agility Strategist
Scrum at Scale Practitioner
LeSS Practitioner

5. Background
Natasha Williams
Adjunct Associate Professor,
Webster University
Project Manager IV – Value
Creation Office,
Centene Corporation
Training
BS. in Biology, Minor in
Chemistry – UMSL
Lean and Six Sigma Methodologies
Agile Mindset – Project Management
Email
Natasha.R.Williams@
centene.com
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/
professornwilliams-
projectmanager
Master of Business
Administration –
Webster University /
Delta Mu Delta
International Honors
Society in Business
10+ years of Project
Management experience
in manufacturing,
healthcare, education, and
non-profit organizations
Experience
Education
Certifications
Project Management Professional (PMP) - PMI
Six Sigma Green Belt - ASQ Smartsheet Product Certification
Pierre Laclede Honors
College Graduate –
UMSL
Six Sigma Black Belt - ASQ Quality Process Analyst - ASQ
Project Management - PMBOK
Training and Team Development, Resource Negotiation &
Management, Quality Standards, Risk Identification and
Management, Project Management Best Practices,
Stakeholder Identification and Management, Leadership,
Flexibility, and Agility

6. What is Leadership?
Leadership is a social process of influence
that maximizes efforts to achieve a goal

7. Leadership Styles
Democratic Encourages everybody to participate in the decision making
process.
Authentic The are transparent, genuine, and honest, and build strong
trusting relationships with others by being accessible and
relatable.
Autocratic Also known as authoritarian leaders. They use a very
controlling approach when leading teams.
Servant The leader’s goal is to serve. They are focused on the well-
being of their teams
Transformational Push their teams to think beyond their self-interests by
helping them see something that must change, and that will
change under their leadership.
Laissez-Faire (Trusting) Let other do what they choose

8. What Makes a Good Leader?

9. Leadership Skills
Ref. Office of Personnel Management
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)
www.opm.gov
Credibility

10. Leadership is Not a One Size Fits All
It depends on:
 Your core values and beliefs
 What style makes you more
comfortable
 The situation
 The desired business outcomes
 Your role
 Your goals

11. Leaders Continuously Develop Their Skills

12. The mindset is a combination of a person’s beliefs, assumptions,
attitudes, and actions that influence how a person thinks, feels, and
behaves in any given situation

13. “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be
developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are
just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a
resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.”
— Dr. Carol S. Dweck, Author and Psychology Professor at Stanford
University
Reference: academy.telenor.com

14. Ref. Scaled Agile Framework, Inc.
Adopting a new mindset requires a belief that new abilities can be developed with
effort

15. Leaders With a Growth Mindset…
 Innovative
 Adapt
 Fill existing gaps
 Agility to respond
to changes
 Lead change
 Deal with conflict
more effectively
 Lead diverse
teams

16. How to Develop a Growth Mindset?
 Conferences
 Training
 Reading
 Coaching
 Professional development programs
 Rotational Assignments
 Stretch Assignments (Out of comfort zone assignments)
 External Assignments
 Lessons Learned
 Feedback (from team, 360 assessments, performance assessments)
 Work styles assessments

17. Poll: What things are you currently
doing that exhibit a growth mindset?

18. Your mindset impacts how you lead your
teams, how you make decisions, how
things get done, and how your team
behaves!

19. Leading a Team is a Balancing Act
 Challenges
 Conflict
 Disagreement
 Poor
communication
 Personal
agendas
 Priorities
 Commitments
 Delivering
results
 Building trust
 Empowerment

20. Reasons for Low Team Morale
 Inconsistency
 Micro-management
 Not enough development of team skills
 Unclear priorities
 Not clear processes
 Failing to provide feedback
 Lack of empowerment
 Lack of creativity and innovation
 Not feeling valued
 Lack of trust
 Failing to recognize the work of team members
 Not removing impediments or roadblocks in a timely manner

21. Techniques for Building High Performing Teams
Feedback Adjust

22. Understanding Team Dynamics
The Five Stages of Team Development
FORMING STORMING NORMING PERFORMING ADJOURNING

23. Natasha’s Leadership Journey
Early Level: Quality Administrator,
Project Manager
Mid-Level Level: Manager of Project Management
Advanced Level: Program Management, Six Sigma Black Belt Project Lead
Expert Level: Enterprise Transformational PM - Centene Forward/Value Creation Office, PM Instruction – Masters’ Level
University Courses
• Vocal Advocate of
PM Best Practices
and Techniques
• Customer-Focused
• Honest and Open
Communications
Team Dynamics
Successful Outcomes
• Stakeholder
Management
• Cross-functional
engagement
• Understanding
Team Dynamics
Building Healthy Working
Relationships
• Mentoring
• PM Instructor
• Training &
Development
Giving Back
• Internal Consultant
• Visible progression
of and outcomes
for enterprise
projects
• Building Trust
Transformational
Leadership
• Enterprise Activity
- understanding
the “why”
• Portfolio
Assessment and
Realignment
Vision & Mission-Driven

24. Growth Mindset
Progression from YOUR Perspective!
Managing Negotiations Between Teams
Enabling Others to Become Leaders
Natasha's Path to Success

25. Lymari’s Leadership Journey
Early Level: Signal Analyst,
Project Systems Engineer
Mid-Level Level: Technical Director,
Lead Agile Software Development Team
Advanced Level: Lead Systems Engineer,
Manager of a SE Development Program
Expert Level: Portfolio Lead Systems Engineer, Technical Leader, Scaled Agile Architect
Credibility

26. Leadership Style
 Mentoring
 Influence without authority
 Building coalitions
Leadership Philosophy
 Be authentic
 Develop others
 Continuous learning and
improvement
 Create a safe environment
Key Skills for Effective Teamwork
 Communication
 Transparency
 Customers and users seat at the
table
 Common goals and objectives
Advice to Other Women in STEM
 OWN your career!
 Get out of the comfort zone
 Never stop learning
 Have an open mind
 Empower others
Lymari’s Path to Success

27. Resources
(Design Thinking
Human-Center Design,
Innovation)
(Lean-Agile Mindset & Practices)
(Change Management)

28. What have I learned today that I can apply next
week with my team?
What I would like to learn as I continue to grow
and develop myself as a leader?
Self-Reflection

29. Lymari Castro
National Security Agency
lcastr2@radium.ncsc.mil
www.linkedin.com/in/
lymaricastro
Natasha R. Williams
Centene Corporation
Natasha.R.Williams@centene.com
www.linkedin.com/in/
professornwilliams-projectmanager