In this incredibly insightful episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we sit down with technology executive and operator, Panya Lei Yarber-King. Are you a leader trying to manage high-pressure situations, advocate for your worth, or find a deeper connection between your faith and your career? Panya’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, the strength of faith and independence, and the mindset that you should "keep on moving" despite any obstacle. Tune in for the blueprint on mastering digital transformation and leading mission-critical AI infrastructure.

Panya Lei Yarber-King is a technology executive and strategic operator with 20 years of experience in large-scale IT operations and infrastructure strategy. She currently leads Meta’s Illinois data center operations—one of the company’s most advanced AI-driven facilities—supporting platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Meta AI. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Business School, Panya is also a dedicated community builder, serving on several non-profit boards focused on education and girls' empowerment.

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Key Takeaways:

• The Work Ethic of Independence: Learn how Panya's mother, who worked for over 40 years, instilled a core principle of resilience and fierce independence, showing Panya that you always pick back up and keep moving despite setbacks.

• Discover the early career lesson Panya learned when her manager told her she wasn't ready for a promotion. She advocated for herself, walked directly to the hiring manager's office, and ultimately got the job—proving that you can't let others hold you down .

• Hear how a high-risk pregnancy forced Panya to embrace delegation as a necessity, realizing that it’s okay to ask for help and that her team was ready and willing to support her—a vital lesson in trusting your team .

• Find out why a data center is crucial, acting as a mission-critical building filled with the servers and infrastructure that power everything you use online, including the latest AI applications .

• Understand how a single track meet invitation exposed Panya to the beauty of Stanford’s Palm Drive, giving her a vision and a challenge that drove her academic and professional journey .

Panya Lei Yarber-King’s journey proves that your faith and your ambition can carry you through any challenge. What obstacle are you ready to face head-on and "keep on moving" through this week? Be Grateful and subscribe to the podcast!

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CONNECT WITH PANYA LEI YARBER-KING:

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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music) 

Keep On Moving: The Tech Leader's Guide to Resilience and Self-Advocacy

Have you ever felt like life was throwing non-stop challenges your way, making it hard to keep your career moving forward? It’s easy to get stuck in the cycle of "why me?" when a job rejection or a personal crisis hits. But what if the secret to overcoming those setbacks is a simple mindset of fierce independence and relentless resilience? What if the biggest risk to your career is not advocating for yourself?

In an interview on the No Boxes: Just Verses podcast, technology executive and operations expert Panya Lei Yarber-King shared her powerful, faith-driven blueprint for mastering high-stakes technology and thriving through adversity. Her story proves that whether you're leading an AI-driven data center or facing a personal crisis, the only way to win is to remember to "keep on moving." This article is for you if you're ready to trade doubt for action and find the courage to claim the success you deserve.

Are you ready to stop letting fear hold you back and start moving forward? This content is for you if you're an ambitious leader who needs to strengthen your self-advocacy muscles and embrace resilience. You don't need a single, clear career path or an easy start. You just need a strong desire to "Be Grateful" and the wisdom to know when it's okay to ask for help.

Step 1: Forge Resilience Through the "Keep On Moving" Mindset

It's a common mistake to view your upbringing as a limit on your potential. Panya’s story shows that a humble start can instill the strongest principles of success. Growing up in a single-parent household on the South Side of Chicago, she watched her mother work for over 40 years, modeling fierce independence and unwavering work ethic. This example taught Panya that you simply "keep working hard" and "keep moving" despite any challenge. This mindset of picking back up after a setback is the core of true resilience.

Conclusion:

A mindset of fierce independence and a strong work ethic are the foundational keys to unstoppable leadership.

• Embrace the principle of "Keep on Moving"—always pick back up and drive forward after a setback.

• Honor the work ethic and resilience modeled by your family.

• Use reading and curiosity to travel through reading and expand your perspective beyond your immediate environment.

• Remember that a humble start is not a barrier; it's the forge for your strongest principles.

Step 2: Create Your Own Vision Through Exposure and Challenge

Many talented people are limited because they never see possibilities beyond their immediate surroundings. Panya’s story proves that exposure creates vision. She wasn't planning on attending a top-tier school until a track meet invited her to Stanford. That single moment—driving down Palm Drive—gave her a vision for her future. When her teacher said, "You gotta be real smart to go there," it became a challenge she was determined to meet. You must expose yourself to new opportunities and embrace the challenges they present to create your own successful path.

Conclusion:

Your path to a new opportunity begins with exposure, and the challenge to achieve it drives the action.

• Actively seek out new experiences—even if it's just an invitational event—to broaden your vision.

• Use initial doubt or negative comments as fuel to prove people wrong.

• Find a powerful image or moment (like Stanford's Palm Drive) that serves as a tangible vision for your future.

• Understand that you must "show them better than you can tell them" through your actions.

Step 3: Master the Art of Self-Advocacy

A common mistake leaders make is assuming that hard work alone will be recognized, or letting a single "no" stop their momentum. Early in her career, Panya received a job rejection from her manager. Instead of accepting the "no," she chose self-advocacy as her weapon. She walked directly to the hiring manager's office, sat down, and said, "Here's what I'm gonna do for you," ultimately landing the promotion. This refusal to be held down by someone else's assessment is a crucial leadership skill.

Conclusion:

Self-advocacy means refusing to let someone else's assessment limit your professional momentum.

• Do not let a single "no" or rejection derail your momentum—be persistent.

• Advocate for yourself directly by talking to the person who has the power to say "yes".

• Be prepared to articulate what you will do for the hiring manager, focusing on value and execution.

• Remember the mantra: "You are not going to hold me down".

Step 4: Embrace Delegation as a Necessary Spiritual Act

Hard-charging leaders often believe they must do everything themselves. This is a common mistake that leads to burnout and, in Panya's case, a health crisis. A high-risk pregnancy forced her to confront this issue, realizing that she was trying to do too much while her life was on the line. She learned that delegation is a necessary act of survival and a spiritual act because it requires you to let go of control and trust others. Her team was not only ready to help but wanted to help, teaching Panya that it's okay to ask for help.

Conclusion:

True leadership involves embracing delegation and trusting your team, especially during high-pressure seasons.

• View delegation as an essential skill, not a sign of weakness or failure.

• Recognize that people want to help you; you just need to be willing to ask.

• Understand that trusting your team by delegating gives them an opportunity to rise and support you.

• Remember that you don't have to grieve in silence or try to be a superwoman; lean on your community.

Conclusion

You’ve learned that the path to executive leadership and success in the AI era is built on an unwavering commitment to resilience, self-advocacy, and faith. Panya Lei Yarber-King’s journey—from the South Side to Stanford to leading mission-critical data centers—proves that your determination and authenticity are your greatest assets. The big idea is that you must stay grounded in your values, and when life gets tough, you just need to "keep on moving" and be "grateful" for the journey.

Now it’s time to integrate these ideas into your life:

Final Steps to Take:

• Develop your vision: What is one exposure opportunity you can seek this month to broaden your career vision?

• Practice self-advocacy: Identify one thing you need to speak up about this week—to your boss or a hiring manager.

• Embrace delegation: What is one task you can let go of this week to free up your mental capacity?

• Keep your spirit nourished: What will you do today to stay "grateful" and find your joy?