Career Conversations with Ola

Artificial Intelligence can write your resume, draft your emails, prepare you for interviews, and answer almost any question in seconds. But it can't replace your judgment. It can't replace your curiosity. And it can't decide what kind of career you want to build. In this episode of 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗹𝗮, I sit down with career strategist, recruiter, speaker, and author 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲...

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿❓Most people would rather avoid the topic altogether. In this episode of Career Conversations with Ola, I sit down with executive coach and career strategist Susan Collins to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in the workplace: office politics. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in leadership, talent strate...

Most professionals are taught how to work hard. Very few are taught how power actually works in the workplace. In this episode of Career Conversations with Ola, I sit down with leadership coach, author, and former global executive Nicole Johnston to unpack one of the most overlooked career skills: Power Literacy. We explore why some talented professionals advance faster than others, the difference...

Why do smart employees stop caring at work? Why do talented people slowly disengage, stop speaking up, and lose motivation in workplaces that claim to value ownership and critical thinking? In this episode of Career Conversations with Ola, leadership strategist Shaun Mader joins Ola for a deep conversation on workplace culture, leadership, employee engagement, ownership, and the hidden leadership...

A lot of professionals feel stuck in their careers. They’re waiting to feel ready, confident, or qualified before making their next move. But that waiting might be the exact reason their career growth has stalled. In this episode, I sit down with Ibironke Yekini, a 4x founder and product quality engineering leader, to break down how to grow your career without feeling ready. She built her career b...

Most people think career growth comes down to titles, promotions, or working harder. But that’s not what actually separates the people who move fast… from the ones who stay stuck. In this episode, we break down the concept of career capital—the combination of skills, reputation, decision-making, and relationships that quietly shape your trajectory over time. You’ll hear a real career journey that...

Are you feeling stuck in your career, thinking about a career change, or struggling to make the right career decisions? Money might be influencing more of your career choices than you realize. In this episode of Career Conversations with Ola , we explore how money mindset, financial pressure, and lifestyle expectations quietly shape career decisions, career growth, and job transitions. Many profes...

👉 We often think we need more confidence… but what we really need is conviction in the value we already bring. 🎙️ In this episode of *Career Conversations with Ola*, Ola sits down with Rosie Zilinskas to unpack a question many professionals are quietly asking: 👉 *Why am I not getting promoted… even though I work hard?* You’re showing up. You’re delivering. You’re reliable. But when it’s time for...

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲❗This really stayed with me after my recent conversation with Jason Donkersgoed. Most professionals step into leadership without feeling fully prepared. They’re doing well, building their careers, and then suddenly… they’re expected to lead others. But what often gets overlooked is the foundation of effective leadership: Self-leadership. In thi...

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁… 𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘂𝗽❓ In this episode of Career Conversations with Ola, I sit down with Chrisa Zindros, executive coach and leadership consultant, to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping careers, leadership, and the future of work. From shifting skill demands to the rise of non-linear career paths, we explore what it really takes to stay r...

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀❓ 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮. Chris shares practical insights from his work in talent sourcing, breaking down how recruiters identify top candidates and what actually makes professionals stand out in today’s competitive job ma...

In this episode of Career Conversations with Ola , I speak with Eva M. Kennedy , a former corporate executive turned transformational coach, about the career wake-up call that can make professionals rethink their career path and redefine success . After more than 20 years in corporate leadership, Eva experienced a life-changing turning point that pushed her to rethink her career and reflect on wha...

What if you’ve been building a career that was never truly yours? Not because you lack ambition. Not because you lack discipline. But because somewhere along the way, you adjusted. You adapted. You assimilated. In this episode of Career Conversations with Ola , I sit down with Oyin Otubusen, health care professional and emerging critical race scholar, to explore career authenticity, identity in th...

🎙️ 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗹𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀. Nine months ago, I stepped away from this podcast. Not because the conversations stopped mattering, but because life demanded my attention in ways I didn’t expect. Sometimes growth asks for space. Now the conversation continues. Season 2 of Career Conversations with Ola goes deeper; exploring purpose, identity, leadership, and the personal growth that shap...

Welcome to the Season 1 finale of Career Conversations with Ola ! I’m excited to share some of the most powerful lessons in growth, leadership, and mentorship that I’ve gathered from amazing guests and conversations throughout the season. In this episode, I reflect on how personal growth, self-awareness, and storytelling can help us navigate career challenges and take bold steps forward. I also sh...

In this episode of Career Conversations with Ola , I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the amazing Tayo Badejo as she unpacks what it really takes to reinvent your career, without throwing away everything you’ve already built. Tayo shares her journey from early career uncertainty to confidently transitioning from accounting into HR and agile project management. She opens up about find...

In Episode 14 of Career Conversations with Ola, I sat down with Ayoola Iwayemi, an HR consultant, learning advocate, and passionate voice in talent development. Ayoola’s journey into HR didn’t start with a traditional degree or perfect roadmap. It started with curiosity, a love for people, and a mindset rooted in continuous learning. In this episode, we explore why self-awareness is one of the mos...

Episode 13 of Career Conversations with Ola features Amanda Gilchrist, a Vice President in financial services, strategic leader, and advocate for mentorship, growth, and resilience. Amanda’s professional journey began in an entry-level role, but through intentional strategy, continuous development, and courageous career moves, all within the same organization! She climbed the ladder to executive l...

Episode 12 of Career Conversations with Ola features Nadine Niba, a senior manager in technology risk advisory, resilient leader, and passionate advocate for mentorship, inclusive leadership, and diversity Nadine’s career journey started with a push from her father into accounting, but it was her personal drive, excellence in every role, and openness to guidance that helped her rise through the ra...

Episode 11 of Career Conversations with Ola had me seated with the amazing Ola Adebayo , a global payroll expert, bold career builder, and passionate advocate for growth through challenge. Ola's career journey is anything but linear. With a background in science and a start in banking, she found her way into payroll and never looked back. In this episode, we talk about what it means to say yes to...

In this special Episode 10 of Career Conversations with Ola , I'm privileged to sit down with Jane Helbrecht, a leadership development coach & expert, keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and founder of Uplift Engagement. Jane shares her powerful career journey from HR to entrepreneurship, offering key insights into leadership development, career growth, and building trust within teams. In this epis...

In this episode, I am joined by Olamide Biobaku, a career trailblazer who successfully pivoted from talent acquisition to project management after a decade in HR. Olamide shares her inspiring journey of navigating a major career transition, leveraging her transferable skills, and embracing the challenges that came with it. We discussed the doubts she faced, the importance of mentorship, and how sh...

I sit down with Delaney Ellis, a Learning & Performance leader who turned her passion into a career that empowers others and shapes workplace culture in episode 8 of CCO Podcast. Delaney shares her inspiring transformation from starting with a passion for people to stepping into leadership roles that allow her to make a lasting impact. We dive into her experiences, the challenges she's faced,...

I had the privilege of speaking with Tola Adeolu-Balogun, a remarkable woman whose career journey is nothing short of inspiring, in Ep. 7 of Career Conversations with Ola (CCO Podcast). Tola takes us through her incredible transformation from law to human resources, sharing the challenges, wins, and unexpected twists along the way. What stands out most in our conversation is her deep commitment to...

In this episode of Career Conversations with Ola (CCO Podcast Ep. 6), I sit down with Papiya Banerjee, a seasoned HR professional with over 17 years of experience. Papiya shares her powerful career journey, filled with moments of breaking career ceilings and overcoming challenges . We dive into how career resilience, adaptability, and personal growth were the keys to her success. From embracing ch...