In this episode of Getting to Aha!, host Darshan Mehta speaks with Fabiana Lacerca-Allen, Chief Compliance Officer at Cipla USA, Rita Fragoso, a retired FBI special agent, and Donna Kinsey, a retired Miami-Dade police major, to uncover how defining early moments shaped their careers in law enforcement and leadership. 

Through stories of overcoming adversity, breaking gender barriers, and transforming resistance into motivation, they share lessons on emotional intelligence, choosing battles wisely, and leading by example. Together, they reveal how purposeful action, self-awareness, and strategic decision-making create stronger teams and more resilient leaders. Their insights offer a powerful blueprint for anyone determined not just to navigate challenges, but to thrive because of them.

Fabiana Lacerca-Allen is a veteran C-level compliance leader with 20+ years guiding global teams in pharma and biotech, and the Chief Compliance Officer at Cipla USA. She advises executives on regulatory strategy, commercialization, and governance, builds compliance-centric cultures, and leads enterprise training. Recognised as a Compliance Week Top Mind, she champions integrity, inclusion, and organisational excellence across highly regulated industries.

Donna Kinsey is a retired Police Major with nearly 30 years in public service, known for pioneering leadership, groundbreaking training reform, and serving as the first woman from her department to attend the FBI National Academy. A decorated leader, she now delivers specialised training nationwide through the FBI National Academy Speakers Bureau.

Rita Fragoso
Rita Fragoso is a retired FBI special agent with 22 years of experience in criminal, national security, and counterterrorism investigations. A certified undercover operative and crisis negotiator, she is known for her leadership, emotional intelligence, and ability to thrive under pressure. She now shares insights on turning adversity into fuel for success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Lead by Example to Shape Organizational Culture –  Fabiana Lacerca-Allen shows how direct action, not instruction, is the most persuasive leadership tool. For CMOs and brand leaders, the insight is that teams absorb values through observation, not memos. By consistently modelling the behaviours you want reflected in your brand, you create an invisible blueprint your organisation follows. Her story of quietly helping a homeless man illustrates that authenticity cascades quickly, proving that your daily character becomes your strongest cultural and marketing asset.
👉 Strategic Generosity Creates Competitive Advantage – Donna Kinsey demonstrates that integrity-driven decisions often deliver unexpected long-term returns. For CMOs and entrepreneurs, the takeaway is to support others, even competitors, when the moment demands it, trusting that generosity strengthens your ecosystem. Donna’s choice to loan her weapon to a rival who ultimately beat her later earned industry recognition, proving that value flows back in surprising ways. Leaders who act from principle build reputations that outlast transactions and attract opportunities no strategy alone can secure.
👉 Transform Setbacks Into Knowledge Capital for Team Leverage – Rita Fragoso reframes punitive assignments as powerful skill-building opportunities. For marketing leaders and CMOs, the lesson is to treat organisational obstacles as accelerators for expertise. By mastering the difficult work others avoid, you develop rare knowledge your team will later depend on. Rita’s “punishment” posting ultimately positioned her to mentor dozens of agents, multiplying its value. Leaders who document their hard-won insights convert adversity into an asset that strengthens team capability and elevates organisational performance.
👉 Emotional Intelligence as the Framework for High-Performance Team Dynamics –
 Donna, Fabiana, and Rita emphasise that true leadership starts with reading people accurately. For CMOs and team builders, the takeaway is to tailor management to each individual’s motivations, stressors, and strengths, rather than applying a single style. Emotional misreads—like assigning traumatic work without checking capacity—undermine performance. Regular personal check-ins build psychological safety and reveal unfiltered team needs. Leaders who invest in understanding emotional context place each person in their zone of genius, improving output, morale, and long-term retention.

Listen Now!
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And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Fabiana Lacerca-Allen on LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/flacerca/ 

Donna Kinsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-kinsey/
Rita Fragoso on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-fragoso-873567350/