Build Your Brave Career for Women in Tech

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:...

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, you...

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...

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 exam...

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...

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 ball...

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...

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 techn...

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...

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 abo...

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...

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 yea...

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 le...

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-dr...

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,...

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 sh...

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 re...

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 fir...

"The best case scenario of bravely leaning in is when you make empowered, conscious, and unique decisions for your one glorious career and life." - Nicole Trick Steinbach Listen in for a nuanced conversation about the combination of the “Lean In” concept and the skill of bravery to how you can make choices to build your brave career.  First, I discuss what the “Lean In” concept is, exploring both...

“Be yourself and own your strength unapologetically.” - Nupur Aggarwal Balancing the courage to pursue your ambitious career goals, in balance with your values and relationships, is a powerful but unexpected pathway to your brave career.  Our guest this week is Nupur Aggarwal, an established and global product strategist, joins me for a candid discussion about self-confidence, authenticity, taking...

"Your resistance could be your worst enemy, but it could also be your friend. Where you feel the resistance is where you can answer: what do I really want?" — Nicole Trick Steinbach I share my career transformation story, using my Build Your Brave Framework, to answer the question, “What do I really want?”  I walk you through how I redefined success and the struggle I faced in finding clarity, tak...

“I had very much been raised with the mindset that the single career was the way that you define success. You pick a job, you stay in that field… [but] I found a bunch of different stuff that I enjoyed. And at one point, in December maybe, you said to me, “Rebecca, you know, you're self-employed now.” And I was like, “Oh, yeah, I guess I am.” - Rebecca Walter Rebecca Walter joined us to share her...

“Your functional skills are important, but they won't create career growth. Career growth is created via your network. The more time you spend networking, the more your career will grow.” Nicole Trick Steinbach Human connection, also called networking, is the most important strategic approach to career growth, so this episode covers the foundations for networking: mindset, approach, and implementa...

Your willingness, your bravery to imagine who you will be in 30 years is indicative of how willing you are to do the work to become her. - Nicole Trick Steinbach This week we discuss the importance of imagining and becoming your future self in the context of career growth and transformation. With thought-provoking questions about who you will be in three years, 10 years, and even 30 years, I dive...

"I wanted to cultivate some happiness in my life because my mind was so stuck in perfectionism and performance, and I didn't do well enough. So I was like, I need some optimism and positivity. So the question is, where did I smile today?" - Melissa Rauen This week we dive into perfectionism and performance anxiety with guest Melissa Rauen. In one year Melissa changed almost every aspect of her lif...