Mar 16, 2026
What does it really mean to lead as a woman of color in spaces that were not built with you in mind?
Monisha Longacre is the founder and CEO of Productivity 101 and a productivity strategist who helps busy professionals and organizations get more done without burning out. After years balancing a demanding leadership role, a growing family, and the nonstop pressure of “doing it all,” she began developing practical systems to manage her time, energy, and priorities more intentionally.
Today, Monisha shares those lessons through her book Practical Productivity, keynote speaking, workshops, and consulting work. Her mission is simple: help people work smarter so they can accomplish what matters most and still have time for the life they love.
In this powerful and honest conversation on the Humble Rising Podcast, Monisha joins the show to unpack leadership, ambition, identity, and the quiet strength it takes to rise without losing yourself. Her journey moves through corporate spaces, personal pivots, and the internal work required to claim authority in rooms where you may be underestimated or overlooked.
Monisha shares the defining moments that shaped her leadership style, including navigating high expectations, “imposter syndrome”, and the pressure to overperform. She speaks candidly about learning to separate external validation from internal confidence and how redefining success on her own terms transformed both her career and her well-being.
This conversation goes beyond titles and promotions. It explores visibility, boundaries, self-trust, and what it takes to build a career rooted in alignment rather than approval.
You will learn:
-
How high-achieving women internalize pressure to prove themselves
-
The difference between confidence and constant performance
-
How to advocate for yourself without shrinking or apologizing
-
Why boundaries are a leadership skill, not a liability
-
How to navigate “imposter syndrome” in competitive environments
-
The cost of tying your worth to productivity
-
Why redefining success is essential for long-term fulfillment
-
How to own your voice in rooms where you are the only one
This episode is especially for:
-
Women of color navigating corporate leadership
-
Professionals balancing ambition with personal well-being
-
Emerging leaders stepping into bigger visibility
-
Anyone questioning whether their version of success truly belongs to them
Because leadership is not about becoming who the room
expects.
It is about becoming fully who you are.
And when you define success for yourself, you stop chasing it and start living it.
Show Notes:
CONNECT WITH MONISHA
Read: Practical Productivity: A Guide to Surviving Life's Juggling Act
Download: priorigami: the art of productivity
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/productivity-101
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/productivity101/
GET ARIVEE’S BOOK: Your Time To Rise: Unlearn Limiting Beliefs, Unlock Your Power, Unleash Your Truest Self https://www.amazon.com/Your-Time-Rise-Unlearn-Limiting/dp/B0D7FNPHS2
Grab your FREE Boundary Toolkit: 3 Proven Strategies to Reclaim Your Time, Boost Your Energy and Feel in Control in just 7 Days. Click here to get it now.
Join Arivee’s community to get inspiration, motivation, and actionable strategies to your inbox. This community gets first access to all of Arivee’s programs. We’re focusing on how to live that one beautiful precious life that you were meant to live- with meaning, joy, aliveness, and fulfillment.
Grab more FREE resources and learn more about Arivee’s coaching
programs: https://www.ariveevargas.com/
Instagram: @ariveevargas
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ariveevargas/