Powrup

Ever catch yourself saying ‘Can I just say…’ before every meeting contribution? You're not alone. Nat and Kristen dig into why women are still waiting for invitations that aren't coming - from childhood praise for being ‘well-behaved’ to boardroom dynamics where men get called on eight times more than women. They share practical ways to ditch the permission-seeking phrases, ask for what you want,...

Nat and Kristen just survived speaking at a major conference in front of 600 people and share what actually works when you're thrown into the storytelling deep end. From crafting a story that resonates, to handling pre-stage jitters (even they get nervous!), to the slide oops the night before - this ep breaks down the real stuff behind public speaking. Whether you're prepping for an all-hands pres...

Ever been to a conference or workshop, taken great notes, then completely forgotten everything three weeks later? Turns out we forget 90% of what we learn within a week, and only 12% of employees actually use corporate training on the job. We're talking about why companies keep spending billions on learning that doesn't stick, why your Coursera subscription isn't changing your career, and what act...

Ever been asked to do something, and your brain short-circuits between 'absolutely not' and 'I guess I have to'? This episode dives into the messy middle ground where most of life actually happens. We're talking about mastering the art of 'No, but...' and 'Yes, if...' responses - because it turns out there's a whole world between hard nos and reluctant yeses...

Ever wondered why your brilliant ideas keep getting shot down at work? It turns out, 9 out of 10 people would split an orange in half instead of asking what the other person actually needs it for (spoiler: one wanted the peel, the other the juice). Nat and Kristen break down finding common ground - the workplace skill that stops you from being that person who leads with solutions nobody asked for....

Rerun alert! 🔄 Because good influence advice is like those perfect jeans - timeless! Ever wondered what golf clubs have to do with workplace influence? In our 100th episode (we survived!), we're replaying why influence matters more than your LinkedIn game. Thanks to an insightful convo with negotiation coach Stu Van Rij, we confess our cringeworthy influence fails and share three strategies t...

It’s time for a town hall! What it's really like running Powersuit with a focus on growth, hustling, and of course, finding ourselves in some weird pickles. Turns out people think we're way bigger than we actually are, we have an army of members doing unpaid sales for us, and we're still driving through foggy highways at 9pm for regional gigs. We cover the feedback we get about our pin...

One in two people quit over their manager, but here's the thing: this relationship is actually a two-way street, and there's way more you can control than you think. Most managers get about 4 hours of leadership training per month, so it's up to us to manage up.  In Powrsuit fashion, we lead with self-leadership and serve up actionable tips on how to crack your manager's communicat...

We explore why we over-apologise - that unconscious 'sorry' many of us use as a filler word that actually diminishes our impact at work and beyond. Women apologise up to three times more than men, creating a gender apology gap with real costs: undermining authority, reinforcing negative power dynamics, and even hurting pay negotiations!  We discuss when apologies are actually warranted (letting so...

‘My worst manager was a woman’ - heard that before? We tackle this taboo topic head-on, examining why women leaders often face harsher judgment for the same behaviours as men. From Queen Bee syndrome to scarcity mindsets, we unpack our unconscious expectations of how women ‘should’ lead. Whether you're dealing with a challenging boss or questioning your own reactions, our convo offers fresh pe...

We dive into the reality of navigating a remote and hybrid world, from productivity myths to awkward video calls to loneliness. We share practical insights from our own workation experiments and challenge companies to stop measuring 'bums in seats.' Perfect for anyone navigating hybrid setups, dreaming of flexible work hours, or just trying to escape the office loud-chewer. Loved what you...

It's time to tackle the 'flakiness epidemic' sweeping through our social and professional lives. Why have last-minute cancellations skyrocketed? Blame Covid, digital communication, and our tendency to overcommit. But come on, hard-working event organisers are facing 50% no-show rates, and it matters! Chronic cancelling damages your reputation and social capital. Whether you're guil...

Back by popular demand! Discover the art of Woo - that essential skill of influence and persuasion that helps leaders turn ideas into action. We discuss how to tailor your approach, get emotional buy-in, and why storytelling works better than facts when convincing others. This episode remains a practical guide on creating win-wins through influence and empathy. If you missed it the first time, her...

We dive into practical AI tips for busy women, sharing our fave robot wizadry- yep, including some notable fails. From turning pets into humans to skipping Google forever, we explore how AI can automate those boring admin tasks that somehow always land on our plates (saving some of us 3 hours each week!). No tech bro knowledge needed – just grab the free version of ChatGPT and start playing. Even...

One year after launching our 'personal board of directors' peer group experiment, we're back with some insights into what worked and what surprised us. We dissect the realities and deliver practical tips on building your own career-enhancing support network. As the saying goes, 'Find people who challenge you, spend time with them, and it will change your life'.  Loved what you...

Join us as we reveal the truth about our inbox habits (you're spending three times longer checking emails than you think) and share practical strategies to reclaim your time. We explore email best practices that actually work - from crafting effective subject lines to avoiding those pass-agg phrases we've all used.. Get straightforward advice for taming your inbox and reducing email stress...

Turns out your precious IQ and EQ might need to shift over. In this episode, we examine AQ (Adaptability Quotient) – the underappreciated metric suddenly relevant in a world that refuses to sit still. We explore why your ability to pivot matters more than conventional intelligence in an era where skills have the shelf-life of avocados. The half-life of expertise is shrinking rapidly, and we're...

Still waiting for your invitation? In this episode, we unpack why brilliant women stand in the wings while opportunities waltz by. We dissect the ‘permission paradox’ keeping capable women stuck, how being the ‘good girl’ in childhood comes back to haunt us and count the chances missed while waiting for that shoulder tap. Want a template to ask for your professional development budget? Reach out a...

Discover why smart women sometimes make bad choices! We reveal how decision fatigue affects women differently (making 6,000 more decisions daily than men), share our own decision fails, and offer three practical hacks to protect your mental energy. Learn how to cut unnecessary choices, use the 10/10/10 question for perspective, and guard your best thinking hours. A must-listen for anyone who's...

Today, we're revisiting an impactful conversation about a skill that transforms careers: mastering influence through the strategic "meeting before the meeting." Or winning the game before anyone else knows they're playing. If you've ever wondered why some ideas sail through official meetings while others crash and burn faster than a PowerPoint presentation with too many anima...

Why do some people's ideas get instant traction while others struggle to be heard? Discover the invisible force that's more powerful than your resume – social capital. We're breaking down how to build authentic professional influence (no networking events required), navigate workplace dynamics, and create opportunities before you even need them. Plus, research shows strong social capit...

An investor once fell asleep during Melanie Perkins' pitch for Canva. Today that company is worth $60 billion. This ep digs into what happens after those moments that make you want to hide under the covers forever. We explore why failure physically hurts (yes, your brain processes rejection like stubbing your toe), why waiting for motivation is backwards, and how success stories like Oprah, Th...

In this ep, we tackle a pretty tough question: What do you do when you're out of alignment with your company or team? We dig into why staying in a role you've checked out of might actually be worse than leaving, both for you and your co-workers. Whether you're a leader dealing with disengaged team members or someone wondering if it's time for a change, we unpack the real cost of st...

Ever wondered what golf clubs have to do with workplace influence? In our 100th episode (!!!), we're digging into why influence matters (hint: we're losing out on promotions and too many wins). With some brilliant insights from negotiation coach Stu Van Rij, we share our own embarrassing influence fails, surprising wins, and three practical strategies that don't involve pretending to b...

Too busy? Feeling overwhelmed? We're revisiting our most impactful episode on the 80/20 Principle - where 20% of your efforts drive 80% of your results. From your go-to outfits to relationship dynamics, this principle is everywhere once you spot it. Learn how to drop perfectionism, embrace minimal viable planning, and focus on what truly matters. Make 2025 your year of doing less, better. Resource...