You matter. Especially during difficult events:  Choosing to bravely recognize and believe in your inherent worth is brave. Deciding that your voice deserves to be heard, that your dreams, goals, career, relationships, and money matter is brave. Getting and staying involved in building the community, career, life, and world you desire is brave.This week I address the emotional fallout after the most recent US elections. This is a dedicated brave space for women in tech who are grappling with...

Bravery doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, bravery in your career as a woman in tech can be simple, nurturing, collaborative, and even easy. For women in tech who often feel that being brave at work means facing monumental stress, this episode will give you a fresh and empowering perspective. Through two unique client stories, I illustrate how bravery may start in moments of discomfort but end with greater confidence, ease, and more personal and professional growth.  Bravery can include...

Let’s explore the profound impact fairy tales have had on our professional lives, especially as women in tech.  Most of us have grown up with stories of women waiting for their Prince Charming or Knight in Shining Armor. While most of us have shed this mentality in our personal lives, its residual effects can still hold us back in our careers as we wait for the perfect boss, recruiter, mentor, or sponsor.  I delve into my own experience of waiting for a "professional prince charming" which...

In this groundbreaking episode I dive deep into the dynamics of the glass ceiling and the glass floor, specifically focusing on how men in tech can play a pivotal role in fostering inclusive workplaces. With detailed statistics and compelling arguments, I highlight why inclusive cultures are essential for financial growth, innovation, and overall business success. I unpack the metaphors of the glass ceiling and glass floor, exploring how systemic barriers impact career advancement for...

Listen in for strategies to deal with inappropriate, confidence-undermining questions in the workplace. These strategies, phrases, and mindset can be used for any behavior that crosses professional norms, strengthens the patriarchy, and permits misogyny to grow.  Listener question: “When I call off sick, one of the men consistently asks me if I am pregnant. I want it to stop. What can I do?” What You'll Learn: Tools and attitudes for responding to invasive questions.How to push back directly...

Listener question: My colleague doesn’t trust my skill. What do I do?  Many women in tech face the drama: dealing with colleagues who don’t trust your skills. If you’ve ever felt sidelined in meetings, excluded from important emails, or observed others taking over your responsibilities, this episode is for you. In this episode, we cover the important internal work you must undertake to address disrespectful colleagues.  Then I offer practical advice for how to get specific about when and how...

Listener question: I know I'm a direct person, but I'm being told I'm aggressive. How do I know the difference?  I have personal experience with this topic in two different different ways and suggestions of how to navigate them:  First, you need to ask for specific examples of situations in which you were labeled “aggressive.” Then, you need to explore what type of discomfort you want to choose: shifting your communication or allowing others to feel discomfort. Finally, you get to decide who...

Listener question: I have been waiting for a promotion. I am ready. What do I do now?  Let’s discuss how to not just wait for a promotion but to actively communicate and advocate for yourself. First, you need to tell our boss directly that you want a promotion, ask them if they support you, and then listen carefully to their response.  Then, you must create a specific plan based on your goals, your manager’s response, and the form of brave career you are building.  To submit your question for...

Listener Question: Is it ethical for me to accept a job that's one or two layers below the job I had before all of the layoffs when so many other people are also struggling to land a job?  Let’s tackle a listener's question about the ethics of accepting a job below their previous level during these mass layoffs.  First, I share why my answer is a strong, unequivocal “YES.” Then I share additional insights from a variety of women across the tech industry. Key takeaways: It's not your...

Listener Question: I'm in a "safe job" but this "safe job" is so boring. What do I do? Let’s work through a career dilemma: feeling bored at a "safe" job right in a time of mass lay-offs. In this episode I share actionable strategies to navigate boredom and rediscover engagement in your career. First, I urge a reevaluation to ensure your current situation is as secure as you think. Then, we examine the root of your boredom. It might not be what you think it is: it is essential to...

We dive into an often-overlooked aspect of building a successful career: embracing positive emotions. Many women in tech find it challenging to celebrate achievements or feel joy without spiraling into anxiety or fear. I unravel this misunderstanding of bravery and highlight the importance of experiencing the full range of emotions in your career journey through the Build Your Brave Framework and a specific client example.  If you often find yourself consumed by doubt or fear after a success,...

This is an important, timely, and short message just for my US audience, particularly if you have the right to vote in the United States Call to action: join us at Women in Tech for Harris. US Election Day is November 5, 2024. This election is about so much more than politics. It's about our industry’s future as well as our careers and lives as women in tech.  Many important topics are on our ballots:  Health careClimate changePolitical system Health of our democracy Paid parental...

Listener Question: How do I make networking suck less?  Sometimes networking really does suck and it always sucks where you aren’t networking in a way that suits your goals and personality. In this episode, I share how you can tailor your approach and make networking more enjoyable.  Listen in for my opinion on why your mindset is crucial, how modern networking isn’t what you think it is, and why you have to choose what to complain about. You need to find a unique way of networking that...

Listener Question: How do I stay motivated when it's been months since I was laid off and I've not gotten a single offer? How do I remember that I'm really good at my job when it's been months and I haven't even gotten a single offer? I know it's tough to stay motivated and confident in your skills when facing rejection or a lack of offers. To help you stay strong, I share a simple yet brave technique: define who you are and what makes you great at your job. Write it down and say it to...

I returned to Yo Canny’s podcast Girl, Take the Lead to discuss the book Quit, The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, by Annie Duke. Yo and I covered a lot of powerful topics about quitting, so our conversation is available in two parts.  Feedback was so positive and powerful that we released these two episodes on the Build Your Brave Career podcast feed as well. Rethinking Grit: Embracing the Quit with Nicole Trick Steinbach PART 1 of 2 Yo and I explored these themes: The difference (and...

Today I am celebrating 5 years of being in business! Listen in for my celebrations, failures, and personal growth since 2019. At the end, I share a very special offer for you! If you complete the exercise below and share it with me over email by August 23, 2024, I'll reward you with a 10% coupon on the coaching package of your choice to be used by August 30, 2024. Click here to get the details about my coaching offers.   1. what do you celebrate from the last five years in your career? (in...

I returned to Yo Canny’s podcast Girl, Take the Lead to discuss the book Quit, The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, by Annie Duke. Yo and I covered a lot of powerful topics about quitting, so our conversation is available in two parts.  Feedback was so positive and powerful that we released these two episodes on the Build Your Brave Career podcast feed as well. Rethinking Grit: Embracing the Quit with Nicole Trick Steinbach PART 1 of 2 Yo and I explored these themes: The difference (and...

During the summer of 2024, I am re-running the most popular client conversations based on downloads, shares, and direct feedback. Make sure to catch a career update at the end of each episode.  Susanne Mueller, leader, global traveler, and innovative Project Management and Enablement Professional, joins us to share her brave career story of crafting a mindset to accomplish a major life goal: a year-long sabbatical.  Susanne and I have a decade-plus relationship that has shifted many times...

During the summer of 2024, I am re-running the most popular client conversations based on downloads, shares, and direct feedback. Make sure to catch a career update at the end of each episode.  Amanda Burma, a powerful sales engineer within growing start-ups, my client, and my friend, shares her brave story about finding a career she loves while also thriving with a brain that includes ADHD and learning disability.  Listen in to how Amanda is choosing to shift her assumptions and behavior...

During the summer of 2024, I am re-running the most popular client conversations based on downloads, shares, and direct feedback. Make sure to catch a career update at the end of each episode.  Caroline Santinelli, a former teacher and now woman in tech, shares her brave career story of – as Brene Brown says – choosing to ‘belong to herself first.’  Caroline’s story includes moving from burnout-driven medical leave as a teacher, to embracing her innate strengths, choosing her health, and...

During the summer of 2024, I am re-running the most popular client conversations based on downloads, shares, and direct feedback. Make sure to catch a career update at the end of each episode.  Have you ever felt underappreciated and undervalued in your workplace, even after making an effort to ignite change?  Jackie Podoll, a Data-Obsessed Senior Analyst with a passion for continuous improvement, and also my client joins us to share a brave career story. Her story focuses on her process of...

During the summer of 2024, I am re-running the most popular client conversations based on downloads, shares, and direct feedback. Make sure to catch a career update at the end of each episode.  Dora Szasz, a research scientist and my former client, shares how she has chosen to find opportunity in even the most challenging experiences, including sleeping on a mattress in an empty apartment. Dora shares her brave career journey that started in a small Romanian village, continued in Germany and...

The habit of people pleasing has a negative impact on your career. If you’ve recently experienced an unexpected or negative performance evaluation – or been put onto a performance improvement plan (PiP) – this episode is for you! I teach you how to identify if you're caught in the people-pleasing loop and what steps to take to break free.  You hear practical tips to recover your performance and return to career growth, using the three parts of the Build Your Brave framework: clarity,...

I consider the Build Your Brave Career podcast our podcast: so send me your questions, guests, and episode suggestions for upcoming episodes!  This podcast is an act of love and service for our awesome community of women in tech who are choosing to be less stressed and ending overwork by building the skill of bravery. We know the tech industry and all of our jobs have changed so much since the first episode on Dec 29, 2020.  I want to make sure that you are getting what you need and what you...