Taking the Lead

Interpersonal communication is all about sharing emotions, thoughts, and ideas. When you think of communication, you instantly think of spoken language and the verbal exchange of information, but nonverbal communication is just as essential to get your point across. In this episode of the Taking the Lead podcast, our host Christina Brady welcomes Rachel Cossar, the CEO & co-founder of Virtual...

If you are satisfied with the company where you work, its culture, and the people around you, and you do not want to leave it but want something new, you can change your role and even move to a completely different sector within the same company. In addition, you can explore other opportunities based on what motivates you. But how do you identify what motivates you, and how do you identify the gap...

Everyone has a different experience when it comes to working in a company. And while it may be easy for some to get ahead, others fail even though they try their best.  However, you have to learn to stand up for yourself and be able to communicate effectively and respectfully to advocate for yourself even though it is sometimes difficult. In this episode of Taking the Lead, Jenna Rogers, the found...

Open communication and transparency are the foundation of your company culture. But they can be double-edged swords, given that it's tricky to determine how far you should go with being transparent.  According to our guest Marina Golemis, transparency is non-negotiable but still isn't a standard. Also, not all information brings value to your team, so it's critical to at least share...

Although we live in a male-dominated world, women beat all odds and challenge the dominant structures everyday. Further, many women are in leadership positions; they are managers, directors, and even independent entrepreneurs and founders. But to be successful in business, women still have to work harder than men. They have to invest in themselves to learn, and considering that their mentors and b...

Adopting a sales methodology can help develop a successful sales process because it provides sales reps and managers with a scalable and predictable way of operating that ultimately determines the organization's ability to improve win rates. Further, it is critical that as many people as possible in the organization should be fully trained in the sales methodology to apply it successfully.  B...

If you work hard, succeed at your job, progress quickly, and contribute to your organization, you may eventually want to start your own business. While being a founder can bring you more money, more free time, and more freedom to implement ideas, there's no denying that starting a business is challenging, especially if you're a woman.  Women generally face many more obstacles than their...

An important segment of any organization is its employees — on whom the company's success depends. It is just as important to take care of your current employees as it is to find suitable candidates when recruiting new ones. That's why many choose to transfer employee management from manual to digital and use platforms and tools that quickly find suitable candidates. In healthcare, the A...

Data-driven teams use company-wide data insights to identify, advance, and achieve their business goals. And using data, you can have insight into how your employees operate daily. But inaccurate data can be a big problem that can lead to bad business decisions and negative business performance. Also, incorrect data can lead to a drop in productivity because everyone — sales, marketing, customer s...

An executive is a powerful leader who is in charge of their company's growth, and it takes a lot of hard work, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills to become one. But you can be authentically yourself and still be a successful executive. In this episode of the Taking the Lead podcast, our host Christina Brady welcomes Jamie Kirmess, the managing director at Shift Paradigm. They talk...

A partnership is a relationship between two or more companies who come together to provide even more value to their customers. There are different types of partnerships — strategic, channel, or technical — and they can have a significant impact on the business. Each such relationship plays a specific part in the company’s strategy and must be entered into after giving it a lot of thought. In this...

When certain companies are hiring new people, usually the first step is to review the CVs of interested candidates. And then, the company eliminates those candidates who don't have the specific qualifications they're looking for, whether it's the experience in that job/industry or education. But if you just look at the resumes and reject candidates based on them, without talking to...

''What do you want to be when you grow up?'' is one of the most common questions kids are asked. But what about adults? Just because someone finished school, got a job, and succeeded doesn't mean they are happy where they are. Maybe they still wonder what they want to do when they grow up. After all, growing up is a life-long process.  Of course, at some point, life kicks...

Believe in yourself and never settle for less than your authentic self. But that's easier said than done, especially in the corporate world, where employees are sometimes expected to hold back a part of their personality and natural strengths to meet certain expectations. It's time to eradicate that belief and prove to executives that only a culture of trust and open communication drives...

You have to work hard to get your dream job. You also have to continuously learn and be ready to take certain risks to reach your goal. However, despite a strong desire, many people are insecure and afraid to step into something new. They are lulled into the routine of their current job, and although they are aware that they will not progress there, they remain in their comfort zone and do not mak...

An angel investor is an individual who provides capital — mainly for a business — usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. Angel investors typically support startups in the beginning, when most investors are not prepared to back them. And if you pick the right investments, you'll get a high reward. But angel investing can be risky since the investment or the business is u...

Onboarding is the process of integrating new hires into the organization, and it helps them adjust to the social and performance aspects of their jobs so they can quickly become productive, contributing members of the organization. But not all companies have onboarding programs that prepare a new hire for success. As a result, many new employees are not ready for work and do not do well. In this e...

A common misconception regarding sales teams is that they ignore rejections and try to sell at any cost. But, modern-day and high-quality sales departments don't fear rejection. Instead of trying to sell, they focus on understanding the client's needs and challenges and demonstrate that they are trustworthy partners. If you aspire to have such a sales team, you need a leader who understa...

There are many processes and structures in a business, and they're the backbone that holds the organization together. But alignment is the secret sauce of success, so you need to ensure that everyone is aligned with the north star of your business. In this episode of the Taking the Lead podcast, our host Christina Brady welcomes Renee Psenka, Head of Revenue Operations at RudderStack. They ch...

Even though there are more women in leadership positions or starting their own entrepreneurial journeys, the fact remains that the fight for gender equality is still going on.  Further, recent US events like the overturning of Roe v. Wade highlight how much more progress still needs to be made.  Therefore, it's up to all of us to empower women to raise their voices and join forces for a bette...

Startups are built for fast and consistent growth, and everything you do must be planned. But sometimes, it's hard to adapt to the changes that happen pretty quickly in a startup. For example, it happens that you need to hire 50 people at once and adding so many people to your team can lead to chaos. Kristen Habacht, President and COO of Shogun, points out that sometimes it just looks like yo...

Enablement-related roles are growing in popularity, and people are increasingly becoming interested in the field. But, not many know what this role involves and the requirements you must meet to land it. Therefore, it is critical to familiarize yourself with those who have already paved the way to becoming enablement professionals by helping others reach their career goals. Lauren Goldfinger, a sh...

Being a salesperson is an emotional rollercoaster. And when things don't go your way, or you struggle to make a sale, you will be tempted to ponder on whether you're really cut out for a career in sales. However,  once you master these crucial sales skills, you will be unstoppable. In this episode of the Taking the Lead podcast, host Christina Brady welcomes Jennifer Ives, a founder, adv...

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the world had to adapt to a new way of life and work. Remote work has become commonplace, and both companies and employees are facing many new challenges. Mutual trust has become very important, and companies have been looking for ways to drive the engagement of their employees. Even before the pandemic, so many organizations struggled to hire someone for entry-le...

One of society’s most complex problems is mass incarceration. And contrary to popular belief, incarcerated people can also be talented, motivated, and capable individuals who are ready for the opportunity for a thriving career — in technology, for example. They need support, inclusion, and a second chance. But many tech companies don’t hire folks with prison backgrounds, and as a result, they ofte...