#CareerConvos™️with Nikki

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. Join thousands of corporate employees who are getting the career advice they need to navigate the dynamics, politics, and microaggressions at work from #CareerConvos™️365 Day of Career Development. Hiring managers are paying closer attention to your LinkedIn profile than your resume, and many candidates do not realize how much weight it carries in hiring decisions.In this episode, I break down how hiring managers and recruiters actually evaluate candidates, why LinkedIn has become a primary screening tool, and what professionals need to understand about how their profile is being interpreted before an interview ever happens.We talk about the differences between resumes and LinkedIn profiles, how hiring managers use LinkedIn to assess credibility and fit, and the common mistakes professionals make when their LinkedIn profile does not align with their experience.This conversation is especially relevant for professionals navigating corporate roles, accounting and finance careers, and anyone preparing for a job search or career transition. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. In this episode of Career Convos™ with Nikki, I’m taking it back to the beginning of my CPA exam journey. I share what life looked like right after graduating from Thee Ohio State University with my accounting degree, when the CPA exam had just gone from paper to computerized and the profession was changing fast after Enron and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX).I talk about why I started my career in industry instead of public accounting and what those first few years taught me about the real world of accounting. I moved around a lot early in my career, but each job taught me something different: from manufacturing cost accounting to joint ventures, intercompany reconciliations, and managing financial close processes. Within a few years, I went from financial analyst to accounting manager, leading a team and learning the technical and nontechnical lessons that shape how I coach accountants today.I also share what it looked like to balance all of that with becoming a mom, starting The Winston Accounting Group (now The Winston CPA Group) before I had my CPA license, and figuring out how to grow a business while still working full time. And then there’s the moment that changed everything - a conversation with a fellow board member who challenged every excuse I had for not taking the CPA exam. That conversation lit the fire that pushed me to finally start.In this episode, you’ll hear about the early years that set the foundation for everything I’ve built since. It’s the start of my CPA exam story, told the way it organically happened. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. What happens when your job disappears, but your bills and ambition Don’t? In this raw and powerful episode of Career Convos™️ with Nikki, I talk candidly about what it really feels like to be laid off, and how to navigate the messy middle between endings and new beginnings.From that gut-punch calendar invite from your boss and HR that changes everything to the silence that follows, this episode is your voice of reason and reminder: you may have lost your job, but you haven’t lost yourself. We get into:How to emotionally and strategically handle being laid off, let go, or impacted by a RIFWhy pausing before jumping into the next job matters more than everThe art of rediscovering your value, purpose, and voice post-employmentHow to prep for interviews with clarity and without bitternessWhat “other duties as assigned” really means, and why it’s your career goldmineHow to use rejection as redirection and avoid the resume black holeA word on manifesting better, not just working harderIf you're navigating career transition or feeling stuck after a job loss, let this episode walk with you.Additional Resources:The Self-Exploration Exercise - start yours for free.Book 1:1 Career Coaching on NikkWinstonCPA.com Let’s Connect: Website: nikkwinstoncpa.com/career Substack: Supercharged Self-CareThreads: @NikkWinstonCPAShare this episode with someone you know who's between jobs, rebuilding their confidence, or needs to be reminded that they are still that person - with or without the title. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. How do you start your day? Are you rushing from one thing to the next before you’ve even had a chance to breathe? In this episode, I share how creating intentional morning rituals - like my WOOSAH Room - transformed not only how I start my day but also how I approach my career decisions.But let’s talk about interviews. How many times have you walked into an interview hoping they’d like you? What if they do like you - even love you - and still lead you straight into a toxic work environment? The interview isn’t about being liked. It’s about finding out if the company is worth your time and energy.If you’re preparing for an interview, especially as an accountant, this episode will teach you how to avoid toxic work environments by asking the right questions. You’ll learn how to evaluate company culture and ask the key interview questions that professionals often overlook. This is the career advice you need to stop making bad job decisions and start taking control of your career development. I'm breaking down:How rushing through your day or career decisions can set you up for burnout.The importance of starting your day with intention and clarity to improve your career decisions.Why accountants and other professionals keep landing in jobs they hate - and how to stop it.Practical career development strategies to prepare for interviews and evaluate potential employers.If you’re ready to transform your mornings, make smarter career decisions, and learn how to avoid toxic workplaces, this episode is for you. Tune in for actionable career advice and insights designed to help you thrive in your accounting career and beyond. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. Going back to the basics with the CPA exam. Before you start studying for any section or buying course materials, there’s a very important question you must ask yourself: are you MENTALLY prepared for the CPA exam?I’m publishing a Financial Statements Overview session soon but for now, listen to this super important conversation about getting your head in the game and get ready to beat the CPA exam. Transistor.fm #podcast #accountingandaccountants #cpaexamreview #cpacandidate #womeninaccounting https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. In this episode of CareerConvos™️, I’m sharing the story of my real job while I was working on my undergraduate accounting degree — the job I had instead of doing accounting internships. I talk about why I skipped public accounting and how that experience gave me valuable, transferable skills that shaped my career in unexpected ways.From negotiation and empathy to real-world communication, these lessons helped me build my leadership style and succeed on my own terms. If you’ve ever felt like your career path doesn’t fit the traditional mold or worried you’re missing out, this episode is for you.I want to encourage you to own your story and design a career that feels right for you. If you want to build your career on your own terms, this conversation is for you. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. Nikki Winston, CPA: Okay. So I wanna talk today to those of you who have ever left a job because you didn't like it. You maybe were bored with what you were doing. Maybe it was beneath you, or you just did not feel like you were adding any value. You didn't understand how the work that you do at your desk is part of something bigger or something grander that makes the department better or faster or provide some deeper insights that weren't there before.The thing that we need to talk about today and the thing I want you to understand is that you cannot say that you don't like your job if you haven't challenged it. So again, you can't walk on a walk around and say, I don't like my job, or I'm quitting because I hate this job, but you've never challenged what it is that you're doing. So this is what I'm talking about. When you come into a new job, many cases, you're a backfill, and you're coming in to pick up where somebody else left off, who may have quit, or been fired, or laid off, or whatever. So, a lot of times, you're inheriting whatever that person had, whatever they were responsible for, and there's this expectation that because you're new, they need you to follow whatever that other person was doing first.Right? And, you get to a point where you're onboarding in the job, and you're ramping up and starting to figure out how things work. But you never go back and question what you're doing, why you're doing it that way, if it can be done a better way, and how is this helping paint a better picture for the department, for the company, etcetera. And, until you go back and do that assessment, you're basically doing somebody else's job. The job of somebody who's no longer there, and you have to figure out if you're doing it the right way, if you're doing it the best way.And then, that's where the added value comes in in your role, is that you have that eye to say, there's an opportunity here. Or you feel like, we can do this a lot better. Or, I don't know. I'm I'm I have accounting examples going through my mind of, why do we close the books in 11 days instead of 6 days? What's the bottleneck?What's taking us so long? Are we waiting for invoices to roll in when we can accrue and move on? Or are we bottlenecked by some report from HR about contract labor that we still have not received, and it's day 5. Things like that. Asking those bigger questions instead of being a warm body in a seat is how you add the value in the role.So, one thing that you will hear me talk about ad nauseam, if this is your first time, welcome. If it's your 50th time, welcome back. One thing you'll hear me talk about ad nauseam is having conversations with your manager and, occasionally, your skip level, your manager's manager. And the reason for that is a lot of the turnover, when we decide to leave a job, or we quit, or fired, laid off, whatever the circumstance is. It's just like being in a relationship.A lot of your reason for leaving is probably something that could've been addressed with a conversation. And it really blows my mind, the number of people that I talk to, either we're at a networking event, they've booked a career assessment with me, they've reached out in some capacity. And one of the things I ask everybody is, how often are you talking to your manager about what you have goin

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. In this episode of Career Convos with Nikki, I share my personal journey navigating the choice between public accounting and industry. I talk about the early career pressures I faced, the stigma around public accounting, and why I intentionally chose a different path. I also discuss the challenges of job hopping, finding the right fit, and how I learned to trust my instincts when it comes to career moves.I reflect on my time at GE, where I truly grew professionally and developed deep expertise in capital markets and securitization. I explain why it took me almost nine months to get comfortable with my role and how that experience shaped my approach to career growth.If you’re an accountant weighing your options or feeling unsure about the traditional career blueprint, this episode offers honest insights and encouragement to build a fulfilling career that works for you. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. This episode of #CareerConvos™️ with Nikki is about: Speaking up in meetings, letting your presence be knownHaving an agenda for your meetings - even if you create your ownEverything you think and feel doesn't need to be put in the universeOwn the energy that you bring into the environmentWhether you're at the office or at the house, get dressed for workThere's nothing "soft" about soft skills, they're transferable and they can take you farThere are things at work that you can't control, but there are things that you can control: your appearance, your energy, your attitude, and your effortAnd if you take away nothing else from this episode, take this as your career advice from me: "Don't be the person that people look to for gossip, but they won't look to for guidance." Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. Don’t assume that your manager really knows what you're up to at work. They too have a career to manage + other people, so your stuff isn’t always top of mind. Join me to explore practical ways to manage upward and use your influence, regardless of your job title. From improving communication to highlighting your achievements effectively, this episode of #CareerConvos™️ with Nikki gives you the tools to steer your career. Learn how to navigate office dynamics confidently so your hard work gets noticed. Tap in and discover how to shape your professional journey strategically! Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. You're burned out at work. Before you go looking for a new job, ask yourself: What are you running TO, or what are you running away FROM?In this episode of Career Convos with Nikki, I'm talking about burnout, corporate drama, and the challenges of networking in a remote world. With over one-third of employees looking for new jobs and more than 7.8 million people having already left their positions, burnout is a significant issue we can't ignore. I'll explore a crucial question: Are you running to something better or running away from your current situation?As you consider leaving your job, it's important to reflect on a few key aspects. I'll discuss what to evaluate before making a career move and how to navigate the corporate landscape during these turbulent times.Here's a guide to go along with this episode to help you manage up and navigate the office antics: Smart 1:1 Guide for Employee Manager Meetings Some highlights in this episode: Burnout in the Workplace - It's crazy that 7.8 MILLION people have left their jobs due to burnout, entrepreneurship, and other reasons - Do you wake up excited to go to work?Corporate Drama - Don't leave your job because of another person - The impact of corporate culture on employee well-beingNetworking in a Remote World - Don't get lost in the virtual sauce - Strategies for building and maintaining professional relationships remotelySelf-Reflection Before a Career Move - Key questions to ask yourself about job fulfillment - Evaluating your motivations and goalsGet Help with a Career AssessmentIf you're feeling overwhelmed or considering a career change, let's talk. Schedule a career assessment with me. Let's find the professional clarity you need to move forward with confidence.Also download the guide to having 1:1 conversations with your manager so it doesn't feel awkward or forced. I hope this episode helps you find the clarity and motivation to take charge of your career. You deserve it! Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to CareerConvos™️ with Nikki, the podcast that’s all about owning your career and showing up as your authentic self. Whether you’re preparing for the CPA exam, navigating the corporate world, or building your own business, this is the career coaching you need to elevate your career. I’m Nikki, a CPA, corporate accounting executive, and WERKin' Momma with a passion for sharing career experiences and guidance for accounting and finance professionals. Do you have a professional development budget at work? I dare you ask for one. Each episode is a conversation about what you need to know as you build your brand, work your way up the corporate ladder, and managing up, down, and across your organization. You'll get the unfiltered, unedited truth, as we have real conversations about what it really means to DO THE WORK to empower you to take charge of your career. So, grab your your water, your tea, your whiskey, or your coffee and let's go!Visit nikkwinstoncpa.com/career to schedule a career assessment with me plus explore resources like interview prep, building your brand, networking, and career coaching to help you elevate your career. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. Are you looking for answers to questions about your career? Email me your career questions and I'll answer on an upcoming episode of #CareerConvos™️ with Nikki. Career Q&A: should I still give notice if I leave a job because of a toxic workplace?My answer is YES.Don’t let a toxic workplace dictate how you carry yourself. Handle professional situations with grace no matter what. For these reasons:Somebody’s coming into that job after you. Don’t make it harder for them because of what you had going on. In fact, make it easier for them because they’re about to be dealing with the same problems you dealt with. Once you allow the toxic workplace to rub off on you and impact your behavior, you’ll carry that, in some aspect, to a new role and worse…Into your personal life. How many times have you complained to a friend or family member about the fuckery you’re dealing with at work? Now you’re spreading the negativity that you’re trying to get away from to people you love. On that same note, I know you got some small words you wanna say to your manager. Are you willing to degrade your brand over it? It’s really not worth it and won’t make a difference because… point 5!The leaders in a toxic workplace already know their workplace is toxic, yet they do nothing about it. Toxic work environments permeate the ecosystem of a business. It shows in how the company treats employees, through interactions with customers, even how they pay their bills. So the job didn’t turn out to be what you thought it was. You wound up working for a manager that shouldn’t have been a manager. It happens, it’s OK. The takeaways:Don’t let a bad work environment define you. Being in toxic work environments is a reminder to be more selective in the jobs you choose. Don’t take a job because it’s convenient or pays more - everything is negotiable. Preserve your brand, even if you don’t like your coworkers. All it takes is a hot second to destroy your reputation. Don’t buy in to the pettiness. You have to develop the ability to work with people you don’t like. That’s a deeper conversation. What if an interviewer asks you why you’re leaving your job? Would you say it’s because of a toxic workplace or something else? We'll talk about that on another episode. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place.We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation.If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. In this episode of Career Convos™ with Nikki, I reflect on the important lessons I learned during the challenging process of buying a new construction home. I dive into why discomfort is essential for growth and how pushing through uncomfortable situations, whether voluntary or involuntary, builds resilience and prepares you for bigger wins ahead.I share personal stories about patience, managing uncertainty, and staying focused on the prize despite setbacks and delays. From navigating supply chain issues to balancing emotions, I talk about embracing discomfort as a necessary part of any meaningful journey.If you are feeling stuck, anxious, or afraid to take the next leap, whether in your career, finances, or personal life, this episode offers encouragement and practical insight on how discomfort is temporary but the rewards on the other side are worth it.Thanks for listening. I hope this episode inspires you to lean into growth and trust your own path. Do not forget to join the conversation with #CareerConvos™. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/careerIf this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching. We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back.CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn, and on YouTube. ★ Support this podcast ★