Unlearn. Reclaim. Lead. | Stop Waiting for Permission to Be Seen ft. Gia Warren

Unlearn. Reclaim. Lead.

You were built to lead. So why does the path keep feeling out of reach?

In this episode of Women of Color: An Intimate Conversation, Deneen L. Garrett 
sits down with Gia Warren — strategic operations and program management leader, 
MBA, and global executive with leadership experience at Lumen, Intel, Amazon, 
and AT&T — for a conversation about what it truly means to be built to lead.

Gia shares the decision that shifted how she sees herself, what she had to 
unlearn on the road to operational excellence, and what she wishes more women 
understood before they start looking for the path forward.

If you're a Black woman 50+ who knows you're meant for more — but keeps 
waiting for the right moment, the right room, or the right permission — this 
conversation is going to meet you exactly where you are.

In this episode:
→ The decision that shifts how you see yourself as someone built to lead
→ What high-achieving women have to unlearn to claim their own success
→ What separates women who find their pathway from women who don't
→ Why operational excellence is as much a personal standard as a professional one
→ The permission no one gives you — and why you have to become it

About Gia Warren

Gia Warren is a strategic operations and program management leader with 
extensive experience driving operational excellence, enterprise programs, and 
cross-functional initiatives across global organizations. With more than a 
decade of leadership experience, she specializes in building scalable 
operational frameworks, leading high-performing teams, and delivering 
measurable business outcomes.

At Lumen, Gia leads global service delivery teams responsible for complex 
operational programs supporting enterprise customers and hyperscalers. She 
manages multimillion-dollar budgets, drives operational strategy, and partners 
with executive stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery and high customer 
satisfaction.

Previously, Gia held leadership roles at Intel, Amazon, and AT&T, where she 
led large-scale corporate initiatives, enterprise program operations, and 
high-volume operational environments. Her work has resulted in $5M in recovered 
revenue, $3M in cost savings, and customer satisfaction improvements 
exceeding 98%.

Gia holds an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management and a bachelor's 
degree in Business Administration from Roosevelt University.

Connect with Gia Warren:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giawarren/

About Your Host — Deneen L. Garrett

Deneen L. Garrett is a Cultural Alchemist, International Speaker, 
Dream Lifestyle™ Coach, Writer, and host of Women of Color: An Intimate 
Conversation, a 100 Best Women's Empowerment Podcast amplifying the voices 
and journeys of Women of Color. She is also the Founder of the 
Dream Lifestyle™ Collective, a sanctuary for Black women 50+.

Dream Lifestyle™ Collective: https://www.skool.com/dream-lifestyle-collective-1653
Website: https://deneenlgarrett.com
Business inquiries: Deneen@deneenlgarrett.com