Danny Serna On How Authenticity and Vulnerability Pay Off and Help You Win Personally and Professionally

Being vulnerable and authentic are some of today’s popular buzzwords. It may seem counterintuitive to be vulnerable, as many of us have been taught to project an air of confidence, be a boss, and act like we know everything. In Brene Brown’s words, “vulnerability takes courage.” So is vulnerability a strength or a weakness? Can someone be authentic without being vulnerable? How can being authentic and vulnerable help someone grow both personally and professionally? In this interview series, we are talking to business leaders, mental health professionals and business and life coaches who can share stories and examples of “How Authenticity and Vulnerability Pay Off and Help You Win Personally and Professionally.”

As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Danny Serna, Head of Zynga Poker and a member of zPride, Zynga’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group.

After graduating from Yale University, Danny joined Zynga as an Associate Product Manager, working his way up to the head of product management role for Zynga Poker, one of the company’s flagship franchises. In this role, he leads a team of engineers, product managers, analysts, artists, and producers in driving the company’s Poker business toward its ambitious goals.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?

Sure! I grew up in the Seattle suburbs. My mom was an English teacher, and my dad worked in finance / accounting. I was a bit of a perfectionist, not particularly interested or gifted in sports, but I was driven to achieve academically and ended up going to Yale for undergrad. I did always love video games as a place of expression and where I could feel rewarded.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.” — that’s one of my favorites. I read that it’s a quote from activist Maggie Kuhn. It comes up a lot whenever I have to do something difficult or out of my comfort zone. The reason I am nervous or uncertain is typically because it’s an opportunity to grow.

Is there a particular book, podcast, or film that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?

I’m thankful I had the opportunity when I was in college to read the Classics, books like The Iliad and The Odyssey. It’s amazing to consider that people in ancient times wrestled with similar questions we do today. You feel a part of something bigger and timeless, even amid the day-to-day.

Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Let’s begin with a definition of terms so that each of us and our readers are on the same page. What exactly does being authentic mean?

To me, being authentic is listening to yourself and trusting your voice.

What does being vulnerable mean? Can you explain?

Similarly, being vulnerable is sharing that voice with others, even if you aren’t confident. Particularly for a perfectionist like me, you have to remember that it is great to be wrong sometimes!

What are the positive aspects of being authentic and vulnerable? Can you give a story or example to explain what you mean?

I think it’s just essential to a happy life. If you’re not in touch with yourself, and confident in what that self is saying, you may end up in exciting or crazy places. You may still have a rich, rewarding life. But you may also feel lost or unsettled because you’re not in touch with your inner compass.

Are there negative aspects to authenticity and vulnerability? Can you give a story or example to explain what you mean?

I think it’s essential to be true to yourself and share that with the world where relevant, and I also think it’s very possible and common that we impose our truth onto others in a context where that’s not the most important thing.

Social media can create a context where there’s inherent value in sharing our opinions, which is not wrong, but may undervalue to me the peace you can create in keeping thoughts, details, perspective to yourself, and to focus on being authentic in action as much as in language.

For me, it’s important to be authentic in your actions and allow space for others to exist authentically, too.

From your experience or perspective, what are some of the common barriers that hold someone back from being authentic and vulnerable?

Our society definitely rewards certain personalities and visible markers of success, so certain personalities and life goals become the “right” way to be. So someone who doesn’t feel they meet those criteria or standards may be less comfortable being authentic and vulnerable.

Here is the central question of our discussion. What are five ways that being authentic and vulnerable pay off, and help you win, both personally and professionally?

1. For me the starting point is, when you are authentic, you define for yourself what it means to “win.” Toni Morrison said that “definitions belong to the definer, not the defined.” So being authentic means you are setting your own course, which can make it easier to navigate the day-to-day of whatever endeavor you have embarked on.
2. From an authentic place, your interactions with coworkers are more natural; you aren’t worried about presenting the “right” image so much as one that rings true
3. You will be more engaged.
4. And therefore more likely to put in the hard work it takes to be successful.
5. And at the end of the day, you will feel better about that project as a use of your time.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would focus on curing disease. Generally speaking, there are some diseases that still ravage much of the world, which have fairly simple solutions — malaria comes to mind.

Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!

Maybe Greg Berlanti — he’s a pretty prolific producer who I admire, and in keeping with this article, he seems like someone who’s living an authentic life and career. As an openly gay man, he started a major production company and is the producer behind many famous series — “Dawson’s Creek,” “Riverdale,” “The Flight Attendant.”

How can our readers follow you online?

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn! I’m always happy to make new connections.

Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!

About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.