The Upgraded Leader Podcast

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE  https://www.thenicolecase.com After nine episodes inside everything that's broken about the system, Nicole flips the lens and paints the picture of what's actually possible on the other side of it. You don’t just want the promotion, you want to thrive once you get there, right? Nicole breaks it all down. In this episode: What a woman's career...

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE https://www.thenicolecase.com The single most powerful thing a woman can do to get promoted is start operating at the next level before she has the title. Nicole breaks down the shift that has to happen first, and what it actually looks like in practice. In this episode: Why you need to “act like you’re in the role” before you’re already there The resistance...

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE https://www.thenicolecase.com The average person becomes a leader of people  in their 20s, but they don’t get their first formal leadership training until 42. Nicole unpacks the twenty-year gap, and why it's exactly where so many careers stall out. In this episode: The stat that explains why so many managers feel like they're figuring it out alone...

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE https://www.thenicolecase.com Waiting to be noticed is not a strategy, it's a wish. Nicole dismantles the "let my work speak for itself" belief a lot of high performers were raised on, and explains what actually builds a reputation that gets you promoted. In this episode: What a personal brand actually is (you already have one, whether you&apo...

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE  https://www.thenicolecase.com Most people think leadership means managing your team. That's one direction, and Nicole says it's often the one we over-invest in while ignoring three others that matter just as much for getting promoted. In this episode: Nicole's Upgraded Leader framework: managing inward, downward, outward, and upward Why &quot...

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE https://www.thenicolecase.com Layoffs, AI, return-to-office mandates. The world outside the office is loud right now, and Nicole gets real about what it means for a woman trying to move her career forward in the middle of all of it. In this episode: Why staying visible matters more, not less, when layoffs and restructuring are happening around you Nicole&apo...

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE https://www.thenicolecase.com The better you are at your job, the more stuck you can get. Nicole names this paradox directly and explains why the exact skills that made you a star performer are now standing between you and the next level. In this episode: Why work keeps landing back on your plate even after you delegate it The real reason "I'll jus...

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE  https://www.thenicolecase.com She's first in, last out. She's never missed a deadline. And she just got passed over again. Nicole explains the structural reason effort alone doesn't get you promoted, and what to do instead. In this episode: Why men are promoted on potential and women are asked to prove it first The phrase that sounds like enc...

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE https://www.thenicolecase.com The corporate ladder wasn't built with you in mind, literally. Nicole traces the system back to its origins, and unpacks exactly where and why women get stuck, usually right around the senior director level, no matter how hard they're working. In this episode: The history of the corporate structure, and how it still sh...

GET PROMOTED AND PAID: WORK WITH NICOLE https://www.thenicolecase.com There are conversations happening about your career right now that you have no idea are even on the calendar. Nicole Case, an HR leader with 16 years in the most exclusive corporate rooms, pulls back the curtain on what really happens when your name comes up for a promotion, and what really happens might surprise you. In this ep...

For the last 16 years, I’ve been sitting in rooms where leaders decide who gets promoted, who gets the raise, who gets the cool project, and who gets told to “just keep doing what you’re doing.” Before all ten episodes of the new limited series:  Where the Bodies Are Buried drop on Tuesday, September 15, I’m sharing how I realized I had corporate secrets worth telling, why this work is so personal...

You told your boss you want to be promoted. They told you you’re doing a great job and should “just keep doing what you’re doing.” So you did. You worked even harder, delivered even more, and waited. Six months later, you are still in the exact same role. Here’s the problem: “Keep doing what you’re doing” may sound encouraging, but encouragement is not a promotion plan. There is no timeline, no cr...

If you’ve ever caught yourself saying, “It’s just faster if I do it myself,” this episode is for you. Today, we’re talking about one of the most common habits I see in high-achieving women leaders — swooping in to save the day. You know the drill: a team member drops the ball, misses a deadline, or doesn’t do something the way you would… so instead of coaching through it, you take it back and fix...

If you’re tired, overwhelmed, or telling yourself, “I’ll start over after the holidays,” this episode is for you. Nicole shares a real client story of a newly promoted executive who’s juggling layoffs, new departments, and burnout — and how a simple reset shifted everything. What you’ll learn: Why waiting for a date to “feel different” is just disguised procrastination How to know when it’s time t...

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really costs to upgrade into the next version of your CEO self. Whether you're leading a business, a team, or just ready to stop playing small in your life—there's a price for growth. I break down: 👉 The three things you’ll absolutely have to let go of to grow 👉 Why your old beliefs about money, time, and relationships won't...

If you’re feeling stretched thin and constantly reacting to your calendar, this episode is your reset button. Inside this episode of The Upgraded CEO Podcast, I’m sharing the four essential time blocks that every entrepreneur and corporate leader needs to protect their energy, think strategically, and actually lead. Here’s what you’ll learn: ✅ Why Deep Work Time is non-negotiable for visionary le...

Feeling like you're always busy but never actually getting anything done? 😩 In this episode of The Upgraded CEO Podcast, I’m walking you through a simple but game-changing exercise: the CEO Time Audit. This is not just about tracking your time—it’s about reclaiming your calendar, your energy, and your leadership focus. If you’re constantly stuck in the weeds doing work your team should be do...

Welcome back to The Upgraded CEO Podcast! 🎉 We're kicking off Season 2 with a fresh name, a clarified vision, and a bold new energy. In this episode, I'm walking you through what it really means to be an Upgraded CEO—and no, it’s not just about the title. Whether you're leading a team in corporate or scaling your own empire, the pressure to do it all is real... but it’s not sustain...

Have you evaluated your goals lately? Sometimes it's not about whether you meet your goal, it's about knowing when it's time to change course or quit the goal altogether. This week on the podcast, I'm sharing: -How to assess your goals progress -Signs it's time to quit the goal -Alternatives to quitting the goal Full show notes and transcript can be found here . Support th...

Feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and underutilized? Maybe all that work you are doing isn't meant for you? Effective delegation is really hard for ambitious and driven people to get the hang of.  But not empowering your team to meet their potential is also keeping you stuck in the weeds and without that promotion you deserve. In this episode, I share the top reasons leaders struggle with dele...

Professionalism is an illusion we’ve been sold. If we’re honest, the concept of professionalism often masks the realities of workplace dynamics, leading us into a deceptive cycle. The world is changing though and holding onto antiquated norms might impede organizational advancement (or existence). Join me this week for a conversation with the incredible Anessa Fink ! Here's a what we’re cover...

No one likes to fail. It feels uncomfortable and can be embarrassing. But failure also puts us in positions to grow. When we embrace failure, it allows us to build confidence.   This week, fitness trainer Lindsay Arias and I delve into the incredible power of failure and how it fuels confidence, both within and beyond the gym. In this episode, we are discussing:  Building confidence through fitnes...

In a world of corporate layoffs and quiet quitting, where we are more disconnected and disengaged at work than ever before, how do we increase productivity, retention, and employee satisfaction? We create cultures of belonging. Full show notes and transcript can be found here. In this episode, we talk with Wendy Gates Corbett about: What does belonging mean? Why it’s so important to our workplace...

Setting clear goals and specific actions is important. But most people forget a critical step in goal setting that will ensure you will be happy and satisfied with achieving your goals.  In this episode, I share how setting intentions on how you want to feel and the pace you want to make progress on your goals for sustainable success in the new year. Full transcript and show notes can be found her...

How was your last year? How are you feeling about moving into this new year? In this episode, I share two journal exercises. One to close out last year - especially if it was a tough one. And one to move forward into the new year with hope and optimism. Full transcript and show notes here. Click here to see all my other goal-setting episodes in one place plus download the Upgraded Goal Setting Wor...