Giant Steps with Leilani Brown (formerly Your First Job)

If you've ever been told your goals are too high, your credentials aren't strong enough, or you should have a backup plan — this episode is your answer. Dr. Vicki Johnson, founder of ProFellow and author of Pitch Your Potential, built a 7-part formula for winning competitive opportunities that has helped her community secure over $500 million in merit-based awards. In this conversation, sh...

In the Season 3 finale of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, host Leilani Brown looks back at a season intentionally built to meet the moment of mass layoffs, AI disruption, and career uncertainty. This best-of episode features curated clips and the six key lessons from Season 3’s most impactful guests.   Dr. Helen Riess, a Harvard psychiatrist, explains why self-compassion—not self-criticism—is the...

What if the most powerful leadership development program in America isn’t at Harvard or McKinsey — but has been operating in Black churches for centuries? L. Michelle Smith — award-winning author, Fortune 100 C-suite advisor, ICF certified executive coach, and CEO of No Silos Communications — joins Leilani to make the case that the Black church is the most overlooked leadership incubator in this c...

Episode Title: If People Weren’t Paid, Would They Follow You? (A Leadership Wake-Up Call) What actually motivates people to follow a leader — beyond a paycheck? What happens when belief, trust, and clarity matter more than compensation? And how do leaders need to evolve as work, talent, and expectations continue to change? In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown , Leilani sits down with...

What does leadership demand in moments of national reflection? How should service, responsibility, and moral courage guide those preparing to lead? And what does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy ask of us today? This episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown is different. What you’re about to hear is a formal address Leilani delivered at The Citadel, one of the nation’s six senior military coll...

What career advice is actually worth listening to — and what should you ignore? In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, we switch things up and kick off the conversation with a rapid-fire career game. Jirah puts Leilani in the hot seat, firing off a mix of open-ended and “this or that” questions — no overthinking allowed. As Leilani answers on the spot, she shares her most honest, pract...

When trust breaks down at work, how do teams communicate when communication no longer feels safe? How do leaders rebuild confidence, clarity, and connection in a constantly shifting workplace? In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, Leilani sits down with Minda Harts, bestselling author, workplace consultant, and keynote speaker, to explore how to create workplaces where people feel see...

When everything you’ve built—your career, your business, your personal life—suddenly falls apart, how do you begin again? In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown , Leilani sits down with Sabena Miller, corporate training consultant, instructional designer, and entrepreneur, to explore how to rebuild and reinvent your life after profound loss. Sabena shares her approach to resilience and...

Facing job loss is stressful — emotionally, professionally, and financially. In this episode, Leilani Brown talks with Mike Daniels, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, about how to approach career transitions with clarity and confidence. From understanding your cash flow and applying for unemployment to managing retirement accounts and planning Social Security, Mike provides practical steps to stabilize your fin...

When everything you’ve built suddenly feels uncertain — how do you begin again? In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown , Leilani sits down with Rachel Tully, founder of Still Human and former leader at Tesla, Venmo, Ford, and the SEC, to explore how to reinvent your career after disruption. Rachel shares her signature “Boa Constrictor Approach” — a strategy for identifying, surrounding,...

How to Get Past the Shame of Losing Your Job — with Harvard Psychiatrist Dr. Helen Riess That sneaky feeling after a job loss? It’s not failure — it’s shame. It shows up after the layoff, the rejection, or the silence between applications — whispering that you’re not enough. But you are. You’re simply in transition. In this week’s episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, I sit down with my frien...

Welcome to Giant Steps with Leilani Brown! Season 3 kicks off with something big— a new name and an expanded vision . What started as  Your First Job  was built to guide early-career professionals. But our audience has grown, and so has the conversation. In this episode, Leilani shares why the show is now called  Giant Steps with Leilani Brown , and what that means for you. From your first role to...

Season Trailer - Giant Steps with Leilani Brown ABOUT THE SHOW Giant Steps with Leilani Brown (formerly Your First Job, the podcast) Imagine what you could accomplish if you just take that first step. You could land your dream role. Shift a company culture. Redefine an industry. That’s the spirit of  Giant Steps with Leilani Brown . On each episode, author, speaker, and CEO Leilani Brown sits down...

Brenda Mallory, a former chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, joins Your First Job LIVE to discuss her journey from aspiring child psychologist to environmental lawyer. She highlighted her early exposure to environmental issues at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights, where she worked on affordable housing and zoning laws. Mallory emphasized the importance of diverse pe...

Leilani Brown and Maxwell Heller discuss the intricacies of his dual career as a master fundraiser and drag performer. Maxwell, also known as Miz Cracker, shares his journey from reluctantly trying drag for the first time to becoming a successful performer. He emphasizes the importance of passion, experimentation, and balancing work with personal life. Maxwell also reflects on the evolution of dra...

Jesse Beckom III joins YFJ host Leilani Brown to discuss his diverse career journey, from urban planning to competitive bobsledding and tech roles at eBay, Teespring, and Atlassian. He emphasizes the importance of agility and continuous learning and highlights the transferable skills from sports, such as teamwork and resilience, to his professional life. He shares his early experiences, including...

Graduates, this one’s for you! In this special crossover episode, YFJ host Leilani Brown joins Sonia Marta of The Smarta Podcast to share essential advice for anyone taking their first career steps. Leilani highlights the significance of relationships, initiative, accountability, and adaptability. Leilani shares her book "Campus to Career," which offers practical tips for recent graduates. She str...

Leilani Brown interviews Eric Ryan, a serial entrepreneur known for brands like Method and Welly. Ryan discusses his early entrepreneurial aspirations, influenced by his family's automotive business. He emphasizes the importance of creating products that elevate everyday items and bring joy. Ryan highlights the significance of partnerships and capital, noting the pressure of using friends and fami...

Leilani Brown interviews Paul Nasrani, CEO and founder of Adirondack Creamery, about his journey from CFO to ice cream entrepreneur. Nasrani discusses the creation of unique flavors like Black Raspberry, inspired by political unity, and Kashmiri Kawa, based on a traditional Kashmiri drink. He emphasizes the importance of community and social impact, donating half of the profits from Syrian Date an...

Adam Lowry and the host discuss Adam's career journey, emphasizing his transition from chemical engineering to climate impact consultancy. Adam, President of Lowry Climate Group and co-founder of Method, highlights his work at the Carnegie Institute for Science, where he managed a climate model predicting climate change impacts. He shares the story of co-founding Method to create sustainable c...

Leilani Brown and Kerry Chandler discuss Kerry's career journey, emphasizing the importance of first jobs and the value of unexpected opportunities. At her first job, she learned the significance of employee relations and the impact of company culture. She stresses the importance of aligning with a company's values and being an advocate for employees. Kerry advises job seekers to be honest about t...

Bill Kennard, former FCC Chairman, joins YFJ to reflect on his trailblazing career in law, policy, and business. He shares his experience leading the E-Rate program under the Clinton administration, tackling the challenge of expanding internet access to schools and libraries. Kennard discusses the ongoing digital divide, including the “homework gap” that left 17 million students without broadband...

Parker Harris, CTO and co-founder of Salesforce, joins YFJ to share his journey from a liberal arts background to co-founding one of the world's largest CRM platforms. He highlights Salesforce's evolution, emphasizing the importance of AI and the need for retraining to adapt to technological changes. Harris also addressed the shift to hybrid work post-COVID, noting the challenges of remote work on...

YFJ host Leilani Brown announces the release of her new book, Your Next Giant Steps: 25 Practical Tips For Job Search Success . The book offers practical tips and a journal for job seekers. She emphasizes the importance of applying with intention, leveraging AI tools, and turning rejections into learning opportunities. Brown highlights that her previous book, "From Campus to Career," foc...

Wanji Walcott, Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer at Pinterest, joins Your First Job to discuss her journey from law school to Lockheed Martin to the world’s largest visual search engine. She recounts her early days when a mentor inspired her to pursue the role of General Counsel. Walcott also highlights Pinterest's mission to inspire people and its initiatives like inclusive search features...