Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast

She was called polarizing. She cried in meetings. She was written off as "the rookie." Then she spent 30 years rising through Oracle and Microsoft to become a Global Customer Success Leader for the Americas. Wendy didn't wait to feel confident. She built the skills to project authority even when she didn't. In this episode, Wendy breaks down exactly how she did it, including the practical strategi...

Mary Hope grew up learning not to make waves, not to get emotional, not to rock the boat. Those lessons followed her into the boardroom. When a male colleague made a sexist comment during a high-stakes presentation, she said nothing. She couldn't even bring herself to tell her husband that night. The shame of her own silence was that heavy. That moment became the turning point. Today, Mary Hope is...

Find out the real reason difficult conversations feel so hard at work, and how our mindset hurts our conversations and relationships. This episode gives you four internal switches you can flip in real time, so that you can have calm authority to fix conversations that go sideways. You'll discover what confident communicators do differently in difficult conversations. Because you don't need to say...

A new year doesn't require a long list of aspirational, feel-good goals. It requires the right specific goals — especially when it comes to speaking up at work. In this first episode of the year, you'll reframe goal-setting for speaking up at work — away from vague intentions like "be more confident" and toward specific, observable communication behaviors that actually change your impact, credibil...

As we navigate the holiday season, setting boundaries can be challenging. Find out how to respond confidently to intrusive questions and requests without guilt or drama. Learn why boundaries are hard to set during the holidays and discover effective strategies to assert your needs while maintaining relationships. From common boundary mistakes to real-life examples, this episode offers practical ti...

If you've ever felt like you're the one holding everything together at work — following up, reminding, double-checking, fixing last-minute mistakes, and caring more about the outcome than everyone else — this episode is for you. Because you shouldn't have to sacrifice your time, your sanity, or your career reputation just to compensate for other people's lack of follow-through. And you also should...

Have you ever shared an idea in a meeting… and nothing happened? No reaction. No acknowledgement. People move on. Then minutes later — or even next week — someone else says the exact same thing, and suddenly everyone thinks it's brilliant. It's infuriating. It's discouraging. And it makes you question your value, your credibility, and whether speaking up even matters. Here's the truth nobody teach...

When you're in a high-stakes meeting, job interview, panel, or senior leadership presentation, everything can be going perfectly, until someone throws a loaded question at you. Suddenly, confidence can turn into defensiveness. Preparation can turn into rambling. Months of hard work can collapse in 10 seconds if you sound insecure, reactive, or unsure. This episode of the Speak Your Mind Unapologet...

Most people don't struggle with speaking up in general. They struggle with one specific conversation that feels risky — a conversation with career, relationship, or emotional consequences. Whether it's a performance review, a promotion request, a conflict, a micromanaging boss, a workload pushback, a boundary conversation, or a situation where you feel overlooked or disrespected… avoiding the conv...

Your voice is the bridge between who you are and how you lead. So how can you be heard and be remembered, even in toxic workplaces? In this episode we are joined by Lily Lapenna, MBE, communication coach and facilitator, honored by Queen Elizabeth for her impact work, and Amy Ewbank, expert in voice and former professional actor and Head of HR. Amy Ewbank and Lily Lapenna are Co-CEO's at Verve Lea...

Get clear, practical answers to the toughest speaking-up questions: recognition, raises, boundaries, timing, and more—so you're heard and respected at work. You asked. I answered, fast. In this rapid-fire Q&A, we tackle the most common (and most avoided) questions about speaking up without backlash: how to advocate without seeming pushy, what you can reasonably ask for (and how to build a case), w...

Silence feels safe, but it kills your future. Unleash your authentic voice and stop letting the voice in your head keep you silent. In this episode of the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast , you'll regain control over the emotional cycle of fear and confidence, so that your nervous system stops hijacking your presence in meetings, and you can reclaim your voice and your influence at work. W...

Everyone says, "Be bold. Be unapologetic." But what does that really mean at work? Boldness easily gets mistaken for arrogance or aggression. Then, when you speak up, people shut down. In this episode of the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast, Andrea Wojnicki, host of the Talk About Talk show, interviews Ivna Curi on how to speak up with confidence, strength, and respect, so you can be bold...

Does fear ever get in the way of advocating for yourself? Everyone has fear. Everyone has courage. The difference is which one you give energy to. In this episode of Speak Your Mind Unapologetically, we explore science-backed ways to be more courageous and build confidence in speaking up. From mindset shifts to emotional regulation and social strategies, this episode is your go-to guide for becomi...

Do you sound like a leader, or a pleaser? Asking for permission to speak up and using apologetic language can cost you promotions, recognition, and influence.   Discover 30 subtle language shifts that transforms how people see your authority. In this episode of the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast, host Ivna Curi shares easy language shifts   to speak with power at work, that will instantl...

Do you ever hesitate to speak up in tough situations at work, worried about backlash, bias, or saying the wrong thing? In this powerful episode of the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast, I sit down with Sadia Khilji, Global Chief Information & Technology Officer at Coverys , to explore how leaders and professionals can find the courage to speak their minds. You'll discover: How to confront c...

Discvoer 14 surprising strategies to finally speak up at work with confidence. These practical tips will help you stop holding back and start owning your seat at the table. In this episode, discover how to find your confident voice to share ideas (even half-baked ones), set boundaries, negotiate with ease, and stop people-pleasing for good.  These are practical, tested tips, not the tired "just br...

What's the right way to self-promote without sounding arrogant? How do you confidently speak about your work (and get credit for it)? How do you talk about your achievements assertively? In this episode, you'll discover: What to do when your boss takes your idea and runs with it How to get credit at work (even if you're overlooked) Why your team gets left out of the thank-yous (and how to fix it)...

How can leaders can bridge cultural divides, welcome diverse team members, and cultivate respectful conversations? How can you be civil with uncivil people? These are some of the questions that Dr. Shaun Carver, Executive Director of International House at UC Berkeley, answers in this episode. He's spent over two decades leading in global education, from China to California, creating spaces where...

 Have you ever walked out of a meeting thinking, I should have said something. They didn't take me seriously. Someone else said what I wanted to say, and then they got credit for it. Most smart, capable people struggle to make themselves heard, to be respected, to be taken seriously, especially when we are naturally thoughtful, humble, or we prioritize people and relationships. So what can you do...

How can we build resilience when facing adversity, and build a growth mindset to push through intimidation to have a voice? In this episode, we welcome Dhwani Trivedi, Program Manager and Business Operations Director at a Global Aerospace and Defense organization. Dhwani shares her experience of managing self-doubt, leveraging feedback, maintaining self-respect, and the importance of assertive com...

Discover the top 10 pieces of career and leadership advice you should ignore. 'Feel-good' advice can hinder career growth and personal expression. These 10 beliefs can sabotage your confidence, boldness, and opportunities. The episode encourages you to critically evaluate the advice you follow and take ownership of your career and life.   00:00 Introduction: The Pitfalls of Feel-Good Advice 02:41 ...

How can you communicate your unique personal branding to advance your career without feeling like a fraud? In this episode, Andrea Wonjnicki, an executive communication coach at Talk about Talk, shares how to develop and communicate your authentic personal brand. You'll learn and easy three-step framework for self-introductions and how to not sound fake or robotic in elevator pitches. Tune in: ✔️...

Are you tired of being talked over, cut off, or interrupted in meetings and not knowing how to respond without sounding rude, emotional, or aggressive? In this episode of Speak Your Mind Unapologetically , you'll learn exactly what to say and how to say it when someone interrupts you at work, whether it's a peer, a manager, a client, or someone you lead. We'll cover: The top mistakes to avoid when...

Are you your own best advocate? In this episode, Laura Colón, VP of Sales and Alliances at Vonage, shares her personal journey of overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome, self-promoting both internally and externally, and building a personal brand to advance her career.  02:07 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome 04:15 Embracing a Growth Mindset 05:48 Building a Personal Brand for Caree...