Do you ever feel like you're constantly giving in to others' needs, but your own go unmet? Are you tired of conversations that leave you feeling unheard and undervalued? Boundaries are the key to creating healthy, fulfilling relationships. Today, Jan and Jillian Yuhas, the authors of Boundary Badass: A Powerful Method for Elevating Your Value and Relationships, discuss the different faces of boundaries and how they evolve. These identical twins are Relationship and Boundary Experts who can...

When I was coming up in the ranks of corporate, I didn’t know what I was doing. I faced inordinate amounts of Imposter Syndrome and fear. I didn’t have the mental capacity to make purposeful decisions to put self-care at the forefront of my routine, to know what to say yes and no to, to have boundaries, and to determine what type of leader I would become.    Well, buckle up for a beautiful master class in leadership today with my esteemed guest, Carrie Hansen. As you will hear in a minute,...

Let’s start with a story. Many years ago, I started as an operations specialist to support a team of financial advisors. (If you are new to Brave Women at Work, I have been in the financial services industry for over 20 years.)  After my first day on the job, my husband asked me where I was sitting in the building. To this day, I don’t know what prompted him to ask, but I told him that I sat with all the other administrative assistants. He told me to move immediately because I wouldn’t be...

Are you ready for this statistic?   On average, we spend 90,000 hours at work throughout our lives. This represents over 1/3 of our lives.   If we spend that much time at work, I’m sure you would agree that we want to be happy while doing it. But many times, we stay in jobs because we are comfortable, we have golden handcuffs, and more. We may not factor our happiness into the equation. My guest today, Lori-Ann Duguay, believes we should. By focusing on creating happy work environments, we...

As a mid-career professional, what has your experience been working with or leading Gen Z employees? How would you manage and work with Gen Z employees? My guest today, Stephanie Joong, is a friend and colleague who shares her experiences with Gen Z employees and co-workers. Since Stephanie is a millennial and I am Gen X, I thought it would be helpful to hear her perspective. I learned a thing or two from Stephanie during our conversation!   During my chat with Stephanie, we discussed: 1....

Hello everyone! How are you doing out there? I wanted to provide you all with a personal update. It’s been a whirlwind so far this year. We’ve done some remodeling on our house after having some water damage issues for the last several years. I traveled to Las Vegas in February to co-host a women’s leadership retreat. And now, I am about to go to Europe with a dear friend for two weeks. Two weeks! I have not been to Europe this long without my family, well, ever. The last time I went to...

So, we talk about superheroes with their superpowers in the movies, in books, and when playing with toys with our kids. We may have even believed we had the ability to authentically be ourselves and claim what makes us special and unique, what makes us stand out from the rest of the crowd. Then we grow up and stop believing in make believe and a lot of magic. What if we turned back to that and started believing in ourselves again? In our superpowers? In our ability to be authentic? In our...

Here’s what I thought about my career in my twenties. I need to get a job so I can leave on my own and prove to my mom and myself that I am an adult. In my thirties, here’s what I was thinking about. I need to hustle and work hard. I’m not stopping until I get to the top. And then I hit my forties, and something shifted. Yes, I am still ambitious, but my priorities are changing. I want to be more present for my kids when they are young. My older daughter, Charlotte, is already twelve...

Study shows that color is a powerful communication tool used to signal action, influence mood, and influence physiological reactions. The colors yellow, red, and orange sometimes trigger our appetite, which is why fast-food chains use those colors to paint their establishments. But who knew that color could be a healing tool? In this episode, Heather Eck, a Synesthesia Artist and Color Alchemist, talks about the healing power of color and explains the process of how she uses its power to...

Crafting a career story goes beyond just listing your work experiences on a resume. It’s about weaving a compelling narrative that showcases your skills, experiences, and aspirations in a way that resonates with potential employers. In this episode, Gina Riley, the Creator of CareerVelocity System, shares her insights on the importance of crafting your career story during career transition. In today’s job market, career transition takes internal reflection and some soul searching to ensure...

According to Merriam-Webster, “authentic” means to be “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.” As you will learn during my conversation with guest, Emily Drake, the word “authentic” was also 2023 word of the year. It was one of the most looked up words in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary last year. And the word “authentic” showed up as a top character trait of executive/leadership presence in a 2022 study referenced in a recent article on executive presence by the Harvard...

Are you ready for a power-packed episode today? Get ready to take notes or listen to this show more than once. My guest, Shelmina Abji, shared so many wonderful tools on what it takes to show your worth, build your confidence, and emerge as a leader. I wish that I had known Shelmina earlier in my career. Her story was inspiring and motivating to me, and I am sure it will be for you! During my chat with Shelmina, we discussed: Show Your Worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as...

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Employers slowed hiring and handed out smaller raises in recent months, signs of fading momentum in the job market that have some forecasters expecting unemployment to rise in 2024.”   This is being done to help the U.S. economy have a soft landing, meaning the Fed is trying to avoid a recession. The Fed is trying to have the labor market cool without it collapsing.   What does all this mean in lay terms? It means that if you are...

According to a 2022 article in Psychology Today, “80% of women in the U.S. are responsible for household healthcare decisions.” Today’s guest tries to make the medical community’s job easier by centralizing patient data. Carolyn Ward, Director of Clinical Strategy at Particle Health, shares the important role of women in the advancement of medical care, breaking down barriers in the medical system and fostering innovation. With over eight years of experience in healthcare, Carolyn talks about...

Are you an intrapreneur in your organization? Have you dreamed of being your boss and jumping into the entrepreneurial pool? Or do you already have a side hustle and straddle both roles? In this episode, Kiley Peters, a master of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, shares tips to thrive in your intrapreneurial and entrepreneurial journey and become successful at both. Her wealth of experience allowed her to navigate and lead others into their journey. If you are an aspiring intrapreneur or...

Sometimes, our lives are like candles with flickering light, but at times, that spark goes out, and reigniting those flames can be difficult. Reclaiming vitality after burnout can be a journey, but it's absolutely possible! In this episode, sharing her burnout story, Sara Spencer shares the details of her journey to reclaim her vitality. She delves into the warning symptoms of burnout and how the Burnout Cafe came about and what it does. Sara also shares the resources you use today to prevent...

Hello everyone! How are you doing out there?   Here are some scary statistics:   In the United States, 6 in 10 or 60% of Americans have 1 chronic condition.   4 in 10 or 40% of Americans have more than 1 chronic condition.   This information is from the Centers for Disease Control.   This is unbelievable.   When I met my guest, Julie Hamilton, fibromyalgia coach, I knew that I needed to talk with her about this silent epidemic.   During my chat with Julie, we discussed: ●       Julie’s...

“Time is the only commodity that matters.” - Randy Pausch.   Since Jennifer is entering a busy season with Brave Women at Work and her corporate work, she has been thinking a lot about delegation. In this episode, Jennifer Pestikas shares the three hurdles to delegation she faced. She also shares tips to get started with delegation. Jennifer Pestikas brings a treasure trove of insights. Tune in to this episode so you won’t miss a thing today.   These are the questions Jennifer Pestikas asked...

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s happening with Brave Women at Work in 2024. I am working on building a course for you. Yes, that’s right, a new course with a group coaching component is coming your way. I am looking for women to interview about professional confidence, so if you would like to be part of my research, email me at [email protected]. You can also always find me on LinkedIn and send me a private message there too.   One of the key themes I am finding in my research is women...

I’m excited to share that we have a repeat guest today! Mikelann Valterra, a money coach, and more specifically the Seattle Money Coach is back on Brave Women at Work.   We’ve had a few shows on money lately. I think that is because, at the beginning of the year, we are thinking about our money. According to an article in USA Today, the top resolution in 2024 is to save more money, especially with inflation and how expensive our cost of living is today.   If you enjoy this conversation, and...

Hello everyone! How are you doing out there? Quick Pestikas household update. I need more time off after the holidays. LOL. I’m sure you can relate. I’m not ready for everything to get into the swing of things again, between school drop-offs and pick-ups, my older daughter is in Poms and theatre, so I feel like my husband and I are taxi drivers all over town. And we’re not even a sports family like so many other families I know. Much respect for the traveling sports families. Much respect....

Let’s start with a quote from my guest, Dr. Romie Mushtaq’s website:   Calling all high-achieving professionals. It’s time to put an end to relentless cycles of stress, anxiety, and burnout.   Umm, yes, please. That gets my attention. I want less stress, anxiety, and rebound burnout cycles. I want more joy, ease, and peace in my life. You know what I’m talking about. It’s our rise-and-grind culture that is killing us. There has to be a better way. And the great news is that Dr. Romie has a...

Can you believe we are already through the month of January? Quick update on the Pestikas household. Keep us in your thoughts because my daughter, Charlotte, and her Poms team are up for state champions this month. We are very excited for her since this is her first year on the Poms team at her school. It’s all about practice, practice, and more practice as her team prepares for the competition. She’s showing me a thing or two about tenacity and grit during this time.   With all the practices...

Women will be in charge of their financial future, but not many are equipped with the knowledge to control their money. Today, let’s talk about money and women. Barbara Provost and Maggie Nielsen, the hosts of Women and Money: The Shit We Don’t Talk About, talk about money and how to face your money fear. They explain why women don’t take control of their finances and how society and relationships contribute to that. Barbara and Maggie share insights and concrete steps to get your money...

Happy New Year's Eve everyone (a few days early)! Welcome to the second in the Brave Women at Work holiday series. This is the next show that I hand-picked for you to listen to again (or listen to for the first time) as we are about to start a new year. Tending to ourselves and our nervous systems is a great way to rest, rejuvenate, and prepare for the year ahead.   The nervous system plays a big part in our health. A dysregulated nervous system contributes to stress, anxiety, depression, and...