The Art of Speaking Up

When things get tough at work, we have a tendency to blame ourselves. We may wonder whether we lack the talent to do things properly, or whether the struggle we’re running into is a result of our own lack of talent or intellect. And unfortunately, when we go down this line of thinking, it can make these tough situations even tougher. When we begin stressing about our own capabilities and tying our self-worth to the work that we’re doing, we make it difficult for our body to relax and rise to the occasion of the challenge that lies in front of us. Luckily, there are ways to get unstuck from this pattern, and today’s guest Geeta Chaudry tells us how. Geeta coaches and guide some of the smartest engineers out there and helps them tackle very difficult algorithms and problems. And in this episode she shares some of the techniques that she uses that can help us when we find ourselves feeling stuck or paralyzed by a difficult professional situation. In this episode you will learn: Why we cause ourself to get stuck Why tying our self-worth to our work can be dangerous How to get unstuck when we’re hitting a wall How to handle ambiguity How to leverage the power of intention setting at work How to become a powerful problem solver And so much more! You can find Geeta on linkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geeta-chaudhry-a963411/ And please reach out to me on Instagram! @Theartofspeakingup

I loved this week’s conversation with Asari so much. Asari is an attorney who opens up about how she’s built a successful career and remained authentic to her true personality at the same time. We talk about how mentorships and professional relationships are often at the core of a successful career, but more importantly, Asari explains why you don’t have to be super extraverted or even 100% confident to begin building and cultivating professional relationships. Asari reflects on how she’s settled into her own way of working and being in the workplace, making her authentic qualities of introversion and inner reflectiveness work for her in the world of litigation, which is often anything but introverted and inwardly reflective. We also talk about many topics that women frequently struggle with professionally, and Asari offers a perspective that shifts these struggles into positives. She helped reframe common things we might view as ‘problems’ into things that are neutral or positive. For example, she explains: How perfectionism can simply be an invitation for us to open up and let go How introversion isn’t a negative thing, just a character trait How an ‘unfun’ networking event can be viewed as a chance to make genuine connections How being quiet or reflective can make relationship building easier And so much more! As always, thank you for tuning in, and send your listener questions to me on Instagram at @theartofspeakingup

I know very few women who don’t struggle with saying ‘no’ – especially in a professional environment. It’s often instinctual for us to want to say and do the right thing so that we can preserve our reputations, do good work, and make the people around us happy. But when does the tendency to always say yes bring us farther away from our goals? The more we say yes on autopilot, the more we risk frustration, burnout, and feeling like we’re not embodying our full authenticity by speaking and sharing our opinions truthfully. Luckily, today’s guest has dedicated her ow career to helping women say ‘no.’ Once dubbed ‘quiet Vicky’ by her classmates, today’s guest was extremely shy as a child and eventually found her own courage and voice by delving into the world of acting. Today’s guest, Vicky S. Joseph, is the founder of The Art of Expression. As a communication consultant and acting coach, she helps women who are *way too nice* communicate with confidence on stage, in personal and professional relationships. She has a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Master’s in Public Relations and Corporate Communications. Her specialties include: conflict resolution, effective communication, boundary setting, emotional assessments and assertiveness training. In this episode, Vicky shares key advice, tips, and tactics to help us say no and explains why this can be so hard. We also run through common work scenarios that arise that can make it challenging to say no, and Vicky help us craft language we can use at work to get through these tricky situations. You can find Vicky online and on social media: Vickysjoseph.com @Vickyallday (Twitter and Insta) Vicky S. Joseph (Facebook) Books mentioned by Vicky: Codependent no more No more Christian nice girl Boundaries by Henry Cloud To submit a listener question to the show, DM me on Instargam! @theartofspeakingup

Self-confidence can be one of the most important, and also one of the most elusive feelings that we pursue in our lives and our careers. We all want to feel strong, powerful, and at ease each day in our jobs. We’ve tried the power poses and the tips and tricks around building confidence, and while these confidence hacks might give us a temporary boost, we are often left back at square one, feeling like we haven’t made much progress. So what’s missing here? Why is it such a struggle to cultivate such a simple feeling? Often, it’s because the guidance and advice that we receive around building self-confidence attempts to change us from the outside-in. It tells us how to speak, how to work, and how to act. We strive for an ideal that is outside of ourselves, and when we inevitably fail to meet this ideal, we find ourselves once again struggling. The key to building confidence is to build it from the inside-out. For a moment, forget about who you think you’re supposed to be, how you think you’re supposed to act, dress, or speak. Instead, turn inwards and connect with your truest authentic self, and build your confidence from the inside out. This sounds a little flighty and abstract, no? I’ll make it more concrete for you by telling you exactly how you can connect with your true authentic essence. You can do so simply by identifying what your values are. Your values are the things you care about most, the things that you hold dearest to your heart. If you’re struggling to figure out what your values are, I find it to be much easier to start a sentence with the phrase “I care about…” Here are some examples to get you started: I care about being a force for positive and good I care about respecting those around me and being respected I care about making people feel included I care about being honest and genuine I care about helping those around me I care about giving it my best shot, even if it’s difficult I care about persevering through challenges I care about being kind to myself and others I care about learning I care about growing I care about teamwork I care about integrity I care about creativity and innovation I care about connection I care about being fair to everyone I care about inspiring those around me It’s best to pick the 1 or 2 values that you feel most strongly about. You’ll know when you find them, because you’ll feel very strongly connected to them. You may even notice physiological changes in your body. Once you know what your values are, lean on them to build confidence. When a wave of self-doubt or uncertainty looms over you, come back to your values. They are always available to lean on. And ask yourself a simple question: “How can I lean on my values to carry me through this?” If your values are kindness, focus on how you can bring kindness into situations that really challenge your confidence. This should be easy – leaning on your values is always natural, comfortable, and familiar because your values are core to who you really are. Remember this: anyone can grow and change, and you are worthy of feeling confident and feeling good. Please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram - @theartofspeakingup – I love hearing from you!

Life can be hard, and it’s nearly impossible for our careers not to feel the strain of the challenges that so often arise in our personal lives. But the amazing thing is – we can choose how we want to move through personal challenges that impact our careers, and we can decide to focus our energy and efforts on finding professional success and fulfillment despite our struggles. And if you want a playbook on how to do this, Rachel’s story has you covered. Rachel tells the story of building a successful career from scratch, despite facing challenges with her health, her finances, and her personal life. In this episode you’ll hear about: Bootstrapping a career path without a financial cushion What it’s like to pursue an ambitious career path while managing anxiety, depression, PTSD What’s worked for Rachel to mentally center and ground herself when things get difficult How she’s learned to speak up and become more vocal in meetings How she’s advanced in her career and built confidence over time How being diagnosed with MS has changed her mindset How to deal with a manager who is micromanaging And more! As always, you can submit your listener questions to [email protected] or DM me on Instagram - @theartofspeakingup. And feel free to join the free facebook group (facebook.com/groups/theartofspeakingup) for more intimate discussion following the show. Thank you, as always, for listening and being a part of this effort to amplify and uplift professional women. Life can be hard, and it’s nearly impossible for our careers not to feel the strain of the challenges that so often arise in our personal lives. But the amazing thing is – we can choose how we want to move through personal challenges that impact our careers, and we can decide to focus our energy and efforts on finding professional success and fulfillment despite our struggles. And if you want a playbook on how to do this, Rachel’s story has you covered. Rachel tells the story of building a successful career from scratch, despite facing challenges with her health, her finances, and her personal life. In this episode you’ll hear about: Bootstrapping a career path without a financial cushion What it’s like to pursue an ambitious career path while managing anxiety, depression, PTSD What’s worked for Rachel to mentally center and ground herself when things get difficult How she’s learned to speak up and become more vocal in meetings How she’s advanced in her career and built confidence over time How being diagnosed with MS has changed her mindset How to deal with a manager who is micromanaging And more! As always, you can submit your listener questions to [email protected] or DM me on Instagram - @theartofspeakingup. And feel free to join the free facebook group (facebook.com/groups/theartofspeakingup) for more intimate discussion following the show. Thank you, as always, for listening and being a part of this effort to amplify and uplift professional women.

If I had to boil women’s empowerment down to just one thing, it would be mindset. In my view, mindset is the swiss army knife of any career challenge – because when your mindset is right, you can find the solution to virtually any problem. Today’s guest, Tasha Thomas, talks all about how mindset how propelled her through her career, starting out as an intern and now propelling her to the leadership position that she holds today. She talks about everything from building confidence to how to know when the time is right to move on from a job to how to build a tight relationship with your manager. Whether you’re looking for tactical career tips or mindset advice – Tasha hits on pretty much anything. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Finding one’s voice and personality in a professional context Why networking is worth it, even if you hate it How to get the most learning & development out of a job Figuring out when it’s time to move on from a job or uplevel Seeing challenges and negative experiences in a positive light Developing softer leadership skills How to manage up Tasha’s advice on building a solid rapport with your manager Tasha’s experience being the only black woman in the room How Tasha has built up her confidence over time I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram to submit feedback or a listener question for the show!

In today’s BONUS episode, I talk about why it is perfectly OK not to be the loudest, boldest, or most talkative person in the room. In fact - your introversion can serve you well in the workplace - you just need to learn to harness it! In this episode, I explain how to begin tapping into your unique introvert superpowers.

This week I chat with Nicole Martins all about her career journey in the legal field. Nicole opens up about how some of her personal struggles impacted the course of her career, and we talk about how she remained strong and focused throughout her professional journey, even as she encountered major roadblocks and barriers. You’ll also hear us talk about: How to manage personal challenges that spill over into work Getting through work while grieving the loss of parents Seeing that career and financial success is possible despite personal struggle Landing a high paying law gig without a fancy school, connections, or high GPA Getting a resume to the top of the pile without the perfect grades & experience Building confidence Getting over the fear of talking to very senior colleagues And so much more! This episode is perfect for anyone who is feeling stuck and wanting to get inspired to reach higher in their careers. It is also perfect for anyone who is on the journey of building confidence and trying to understand how to have a powerful and authentic presence in workplace, even when it feels difficult. I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram to submit feedback or a listener question for the show!

Join the facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/theartofspeakingup/ This week’s episode is a solo episode, where I explore the emergence of my inner critic both in my career and in my creation of this very podcast. As part of this exploration, I unpack the ways in which internalized misogyny has hardened my inner critic and caused me to direct a very viscous kind of hatred inwards, towards myself. I share what I’ve been learning from this experience, how I plan to dismantle my inner critic, and how this might be helpful to you. In doing so, I hope to bring light and positivity to the parts of ourselves that can often feel cruel or painful. If you’ve been listening since the beginning of the show – thank you so much! I am enormously grateful for your support. If you’d like to receive my inner critic journaling prompts, just write a review for the show in iTunes, screenshot it (before you submit), and send it to [email protected] or DM it to @theartofspeakingup on Instagram. Please support the show by subscribing and reviewing the show in iTunes, and by reaching out to submit a listener question! I can’t WAIT to catch you again in Season 2!!!

This week I chatted with Regina Romeo about her career in HR and everything she’s learned along the way about salary negotiation. Regina and I talked about the mental side of negotiation in addition to the tools and tactics of salary negotiation. In this conversation we cover: How to prepare to negotiate salary How to collect information prior to discussing salary so that you are prepared and informed Why it’s normal to be nervous or stressed to negotiate salary How to frame salary negotiations and asks Why it’s okay (and not a deal-breaker) to be nervous during interviews How to mentally get through career setbacks and tough times And lots more! Check our Regina’s podcast, office politics radio: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/office-politics-radio/id1358857631?mt=2 Join the Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/722566004802516/ I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram to submit feedback or a listener question for the show!

This week, I’m talking with a childhood best friend of mine and landscape architect, Alexia Friend. In this episode, Alexia shares all about how she learned to manage her workload without sacrificing her dedication to her work and while still being a top performer at the architecture firm that she works at. In this episode we chat about: Pushing back against too much work Work like balance Time management How to communicate with maturity and leadership How to strategically push back with your manager Why it’s scary to ask for help at work How to strategically ask for help at work Having the confidence to leave the office when your coworkers/manager are still working Balancing work and having a family And much more! I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram to submit feedback or a listener question for the show!

This week I chatted with career coach Meg Duffy about the work she does helping women make career transitions. Meg specializes in helping women build and grow careers in tech, and supports her clients on a practical and an emotional level as they chart the next steps in their careers. In this conversation we hit on: How to break down big career transitions into smaller steps How impostor syndrome, fear, and anxiety can make career growth challenging and how to build confidence over time How to figure out what you like and what you don’t like professionally How to gain clarity about the direction of your career How to figure out what you want and set career and life goals What to do if you’ve just started a new job and are realizing it might not be a good fit Resources to help you better understand potential employers when you interview Get in touch with Meg: @Futureproofmeg on Instagram, https://meghan-duffy.com Resources: Creative morning job board: https://creativemornings.com/jobs WORK job board: https://www.bwork.com/ Keyvalues.com I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram to submit feedback or a listener question for the show!

Today I’m chatting with licensed therapist, Risha London Nathan, about her work as a therapist and how she supports female clients through some of the professional challenges that they encounter. Risha share advice and practical insights based on her years of training and experience, and in this episode we talk about: Why it can be difficult to ask for what we need and assert boundaries How fear of not being good enough can manifest professionally The importance self-acceptance and acknowledging our emotions How to release, process, and let go of strong negative emotions Being highly sensitive at work And much more! Check out Risha’s site, www.WellwithRisha.com and follow her in Instagram at @wellwithRisha. I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram to submit feedback or a listener question for the show!

This week I chatted with Helen Foster about toxic masculinity in the workplace. Our conversation was recorded back in September in the midst of the Brett Kavanaugh hearing, so toxic masculinity was thick in the air around us and fueled this conversation on a very important topic. In this conversation we talk about: What toxic male behavior in the workplace can look like How it can make us feel What to do if you are dealing with a toxic male coworker or work culture Why disrespectful coworkers make us feel bad even when we know we shouldn’t let it get to us The social pressures & timelines that women often face And so much more Follow Helen on Instagram at @Helefab_ and check out her website at www.Helefab.com I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram to submit feedback or a listener question for the show!

In this solo episode, I talk about why it can be so hard for us to be ourselves at work. We often contort our personalities or expend large amounts of energy trying to be the perfect persona at work, and we blame ourselves and turn self-critical when we fail to live up to this standard. In this episode I talk about why it’s not just okay to be and feel awkward and different at work – but why letting ALL aspects of your personality shine is critical to becoming the most powerful version of yourself. As mentioned on the show - here's a video of Steve Ballmer going crazy on stage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I14b-C67EXY I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram to submit feedback or a listener question for the show!

This week, I talk with women’s empowerment coach Lainey Crawford about moving through feelings of shyness and letting more of yourself show at work. Like myself, Lainey knows like what it is like to get stuck in silence and struggle to bring one’s ideas and uniqueness to the world around us. In this episode we talk about: How shyness and feelings of smallness can manifest in work and life Techniques for moving through them Feminine styles of leadership and communication How to get comfortable being more vocal at work And much more! If you would like to get in touch with Lainey, her website is www.laineycrawford.com Want to submit a listener question to be answered on the show? Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram

Samantha Siffring is a business coach who works with working moms who are growing their online businesses. Overwhelm and mental drama is an area she is deeply familiar with, and in this conversation, Samantha shares the tools and tactics that she uses with herself and with clients to help manage feelings of overwhelm, and to prevent overwhelm from spiraling into even deeper overwhelm and even panic (as it so often does for many of us) In this conversation we talk about: The ‘mental drama’ side of overwhelm The relationship between boundaries, people pleasing, and overwhelm Self-worth and overwhelm How to neutralize some of the difficult feelings that overwhelm can trigger How to stay sane when working in an open-plan office And much more! You can learn more about Samantha at www.TBHcoach.com and follow her on Instagram at @samanthahms Want to submit a listener question to be answered on the show? Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup in Instagram

CEO turned life coach Brenda Baird unpacks why we feel anxiety, stress, and unhappiness at work. She talks about how our internal monologue can make difficult situations feel even harder for us, and how our fears and insecurities can catabolize challenges into stress and anxiety. We also cover: What burnout looks like and why it happens How fear and our insecurities can amplify stress and anxiety How self-sabotage can show up at work Inner critics and how they impact our work Why we seek external validation You can learn more about Brenda’s work at: www.brendabairdcoaching.com Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck: https://amzn.to/2FHW1pQ Want to get in touch or submit a listener question? DM Jessica on Instagram at @theartofspeakingup or send an email to [email protected]

Whether it’s a frustrating project, a co-worker you don’t get along with, or just mental exhaustion – this conversation with Courtney dives into why we find ourselves feeling agitated and on edge some days at work. Courtney Clifford is a facilitator, coach, kundalini yoga & meditation teacher based in NYC. She is the founder of TRUE, a transformative experiential development company that generates increased inner awareness through a blend of yogic science, practical energetic philosophy and techniques. Courtney is also the creator Amplified EnergyTM as a way for people of all walks of life to experience their "TRUE" selves and achieve peace from the inside out. In this conversation we cover: Why emotional intelligence matters at work How we can examine the role we play in coworker frictions How to process and let go of negative emotions that we feel at work How to deepen our self-awareness, and How to stay centered when work is driving us nuts You can learn more about Courtney’s work at www.CourtneyClifford.com and follow her on Instagram - @courtopia. Want to submit a listener question to be answered on the show? Email [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram.

This episode is all about pursuing your career goals without hesitation. Britt’s story of landing a coveted tech role without an engineering degree or prior experience is proof that opportunities that might seem out of reach are often more attainable than we might think. In this episode, Britt and I chat about: How Britt landed a role in tech without an engineering degree or any prior tech experience How Britt ramped up and built confidence in her new role, despite being less experienced than everyone else on her team Britt’s advice for what to do if you feel like you need to ask a ‘dumb’ question (sidenote: I don’t believe that dumb questions are a real thing) How Britt approaches goal-setting and how she goes after big goals and works through failure or missed opportunities The challenges in building the courage to speak up and believe in our own ideas, goals, and ambitions And LOTS more This conversation is jam packed with honest advice and insights, as well as an answer to a listener question about what to do when you find yourself shrinking away in the presence of more senior coworkers or bosses. I hope you enjoy – and if you’re having any challenges at work, I want to hear from you!! Submit your listener questions to [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram. Thank you for listening! J This episode is all about pursuing your career goals without hesitation. Britt’s story of landing a coveted tech role without an engineering degree or prior experience is proof that opportunities that might seem out of reach are often more attainable than we might think. In this episode, Britt and I chat about: How Britt landed a role in tech without an engineering degree or any prior tech experience How Britt ramped up and built confidence in her new role, despite being less experienced than everyone else on her team Britt’s advice for what to do if you feel like you need to ask a ‘dumb’ question (sidenote: I don’t believe that dumb questions are a real thing) How Britt approaches goal-setting and how she goes after big goals and works through failure or missed opportunities The challenges in building the courage to speak up and believe in our own ideas, goals, and ambitions And LOTS more This conversation is jam packed with honest advice and insights, as well as an answer to a listener question about what to do when you find yourself shrinking away in the presence of more senior coworkers or bosses. I hope you enjoy – and if you’re having any challenges at work, I want to hear from you!! Submit your listener questions to [email protected] or DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram. Thank you for listening!

We need more female leaders in Corporate America, which means that as women, dreaming big for ourselves is not just fun, but actually critical to closing the corporate gender gap. In this episode, Jess discusses what it means to be ambitious and why it’s so important for ambitious women to not sell themselves short in terms of what they want for their careers. She discusses: Why it can feel scary and even uncomfortable to want something big for yourself Why we sometimes don’t allow ourselves to dream as big as we should Why dreaming big can be so powerful The relationship between female empowerment and career goals, and How you can start going after massive goals TODAY, no matter who you are or what you do If you’re interested in diving deeper into the topic of female ambition and desire, check out Appetites by Caroline Knapp: https://amzn.to/2TdyOyJ As always, please reach out if you’re enjoying the show! And feel free to submit a listener question

~~ Want to submit a listener question to be answered on the show? DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram or email [email protected] ~~ In this conversation, Carrie covers some of the key tenets behind achieving happiness and productivity in work and in life. Carrie and I chatted about: Why our brains can get stuck in negative mode, and how to reorient our thinking towards the positive How to build confidence when we’re feeling low Why criticism can sting so much and leave more of a lasting impact than positive feedback Why we can end up feeling stuck in our jobs, and what we can do to start to feel unstuck How we can bring more joy into our careers and our lives by exploring new strengths and passions How we can make work feel more fun and playful, and How we can ultimately live a more happy and fulfilling life My favorite thing about this interview was the list of techniques that Carrie suggested to help us get unstuck. They are: List of 100 accomplishments: list 100 things that you did well, accomplished, or that turned out well for you whenever you’re needing a boost in confidence or productivity Curiosity journal: spend a few days noticing everything you’re curious about and capturing it in a journal. Then reflect back and see what pops out to you, and get curious about how you can pursue it or learn more about it ‘What-if’ exercise: if you’re on the fence about something or feeling stuck, list out 10+ potential solutions that start with ‘what-if?’ Don’t filter out any ideas! Just list everything that comes to mind Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual: On a sheet of paper, draw four quadrants for each category, and list the things in that category that make you feel happy and fulfilled. Make sure you’re doing at least a few of those things every day or week The Unicorn hat: find an unconventional way to make a boring task more fun To learn more about Carrie, go to www.nextlevelcoachconsult.com Want to get in touch? Come chat with Jess on Instagram at @theartofspeakingup or email [email protected].

~~ Want to submit a listener question to be answered on the show? DM @theartofspeakingup on Instagram or email [email protected] ~~ Job searching can be tough. It is time consuming, at times discouraging, and can often put our self-esteem to the test. This is why I was so excited to sit down and chat with job-search coach Shea O’Dell Scott – not just about the process itself, but about the difficult feelings that job searching and interviewing can often elicit. Shea has built a successful career in the fashion (and now interior design industry), but like many, she struggled to land her very first job out of college. Now, she’s turned her own early job search struggles into a mission-driven side hustle: in addition to juggling her full-time job in interior design, Shea coaches clients with the goal of helping them land their very first job. But Shea is so much more than a career coach. Her vision for the work that she does was built off of the internal struggles that she faced when trying to land her first job. She does more than just help her clients with their resumes, applications, and interview prep – Shea helps them stay motivated, confident, and self-assured through the interview process. What I love so much about Shea and her work is that she takes a strengths-based, compassionate approach to working with her clients. She understands that job searching can mean so much more to us than it might appear on the surface – in many ways, the job search process can feel like it is mirroring our value and self-worth back to us as we await replies from employers, negotiate salary, and push through rounds of challenging interviews. In this conversation, Shea and I discuss everything from feeling scared to negotiate salary, to job search tips, to staying strong and confident through the search process. Shea also answers a question from a listener who is feeling discouraged after several weeks of unsuccessful job searching. Shea shares encouragement and tactical tips to help the listener stay strong and land the job she is wanting for herself. If you to learn more about Shea, her Instagram is @goyouguide and her website is www.goyouguide.com Want to get in touch? Come chat with Jess on Instagram at @theartofspeakingup or email [email protected].

Once upon a time, before smartphones were the norm, my employer gave me a Blackberry phone so that I could check email on the go. Did you know that Blackberries have a tiny little light that blinks red every time an email comes in? And remember, this was my work phone, so in my case - the little light blinked red every time a work email came in. My job was high-pressure, rapid-fire, and very demanding - which meant that the red blinky light blinked often, and with a distinct aura of urgency. Over time, the red blinky light became my master and I its slave, in a bizarre Pavlovian tango in which I’d constantly check to see if it was blinking. But that wasn’t the weirdest part of things. The weirdest part is what would happen when I wasn’t checking the phone to see if the light was blinking. Somehow, someway, by some crazy malfunction of my brain - the red blinky light began following me. I saw it in the shower, I saw it in the subway train - I even saw it one time in a breadbasket when I was on a date with my boyfriend at an Italian Restaurant. My mind had become completely consumed. And I felt stuck, because getting away from the red blinky light itself was not enough. The red blinky light was following me! If I could go back and advice my 25 year old self, I’d encourage her to try something that I was unfamiliar with at the time: meditation. Simply stated, meditation is strengthening our ability to observe our own thoughts. When we do so, we are able to identify unwanted thought patterns and disengage with them - even when we’re not meditating. In this episode, Charlotte Myers talks about how to meditate, and shares similar stories from her own career of times when her mind became consumed with negative thoughts and stress, and when she turned to mindfulness and meditation to feel better despite her difficult work circumstances. If you want to connect with Charlotte, her Instagram handle is @airyfairyfeminist and she hosts The Airy Fairy Feminist podcast. Shawn Achor’s podcast on positive psychology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJsdqxnZb0 Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod:https://amzn.to/2R5SvGF 10% Happier by Dan Harris:https://amzn.to/2D2JJX4 The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor: https://amzn.to/2q5hfU7 Want to get in touch? Follow @theartofspeakingup on Instagram or email [email protected].

I remember getting feedback early on in my career that told me that I needed to learn to be more assertive. I also remember being confused and uncomfortable around the idea of assertiveness. What exactly did this mean? How and when was I supposed to do it? And most importantly, why did it feel so foreign and uncomfortable for me? Assertiveness is a complex, multi-layered topic – especially for many women. In this conversation with Kourtney, we dive deep into a very important piece of the assertiveness puzzle: why it can feel uncomfortable for so many of us, and how we can learn to stay strong in our communication without feeling like we’re sacrificing our authenticity. Kourtney is an influential leader in Corporate America, and in this episode, she shares how her voice, her presence, and her assertiveness evolved as she grew her career. Kourtney normalizes the fact that assertiveness can be very difficult – and in doing so, she enables us to breath a collective sigh of relief and know that we are not alone in our anxieties and discomfort around this topic. Kourtney provides valuable advice on how we can tap into a modality of assertiveness that feels right for us, and shares powerful information on the intersection between assertiveness, women’s empowerment, and the connection that we have with our voices and our inner authority. Kourtney was an inspiration to me. When I spoke with her, I felt her passion for uplifting other women, and she inspired me to continue amplifying my own strength as well as the strength of other women. I hope that she does the same for you! Want to get in touch? Email [email protected] & follow @theartofspeakingup on Instagram. FREE RESOURCES Free Ebook: https://www.assertivenessebook.com/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theartofspeakingup/ Art of Speaking Up email newsletter signup: https://jessguzikcoaching.com/newsletter/

Speaking in front of groups can be not only challenging – but for many of us, it can be extremely anxiety inducing. I know how frustrating and debilitating it can be to feel deeply uncomfortable at the thought of getting up in front of groups – I’ve been there! In this episode, I chat all about the fear of public speaking with Olivia Mitchell. Olivia is a speaking coach who believes that even the shyest and most afraid person can get more comfortable with this over time. If you’re anything like I was, you are probably skeptical that this is actually true. You probably think that this works for other people, but it could never work for you. Olivia is here to prove you wrong. Though she began her career as an attorney, she now focuses on exclusively on public speaking. Her specialty and one of her greatest gifts is helping women who are very afraid of public speaking get more comfortable in front of groups. Her approach is one that I hadn’t heard of before, and something I wish I would have had access to in my 20s. If you struggle with speaking in front of groups, you’ll appreciate the fact that Olivia does not push people to just force themselves to get up in front of groups and ‘get over it.’ Her approach is gentle yet calculated, and one that I believe is very powerful and effective. I am so excited to bring Olivia’s ideas and point of view to listeners! Here are links to things we mentioned in the show: Year of Yes, By Shonda Rhimes: https://amzn.to/2I5s5la You can learn more about Olivia’s work here: www.speakingaboutpresenting.com Want to get in touch? Email [email protected] & follow @theartofspeakingup on Instagram. FREE RESOURCES Free Ebook: https://www.assertivenessebook.com/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theartofspeakingup/ Art of Speaking Up email newsletter signup: https://jessguzikcoaching.com/newsletter/

In part 2 of my conversation with Kaitlin, she talks about the struggles of navigating her early career days as a young woman in the male dominated ad vertical. Kaitlin also answers a listener question about how to build an interpersonal connection with your male manager when you're the only woman on the team. I was blown away by Kaitlin's ability not only to share important learnings from her own experiences, but to draw important parallels to broader workplace issues such as inclusivity and diversity. This conversation was an important reminder to me that privilege is such an important ingredient in the women's empowerment conversation, and I am so thankful to Kaitlin for delving into these important topics and sharing her insights with us. FREE RESOURCES: Free Ebook: https://www.assertivenessebook.com/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theartofspeakingup/ Art of Speaking Up email newsletter signup: https://jessguzikcoaching.com/newsletter/

This show was designed to do two things: share real stories about personal growth from real working women, and give young women honest, helpful career advice. Kaitlin Maud, digital brand strategist, seriously over delivered on both of these goals. I was blown away by her honesty, eloquence, and her intense passion for supporting the inner growth of other women. In this two-part conversation, I talk with Kaitlin about what it was like to navigate her early career days and push through impostor syndrome. At the time, she didn’t even realize that she was battling issues of self-worth. Like myself, she thought it was normal to be questioning her ability to contribute and finding ways to overcompensate for a perceived lack of competence. If someone as smart, gifted, and talented as Kaitlin felt this way – I think it’s safe to say that this struggle can be pretty universal for women. Kaitlin also talks about the challenges she faced working in the male-dominated advertising vertical. Her stories are funny yet haunting, and they serve as a powerful reminder of the privilege that men hold in the workplace and the ways in which men can cause harm without intending it or realizing it. My conversation with Kaitlin made me feel energized, excited, and empowered. Kaitlin’s strong presence inspired me to become even stronger in my own presence. Her honesty made me see that speaking up and owning our experiences is an act of courage. I truly hope that she does the same for you. Here are links to the books and resources that Kaitlin mentioned in our discussion: Crucial Conversations book: https://amzn.to/2DnaaYm Google study on team dynamics: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/magazine/what-google-learned-from-its-quest-to-build-the-perfect-team.html HBR article on women being less likely to get raises: https://hbr.org/2018/06/research-women-ask-for-raises-as-often-as-men-but-are-less-likely-to-get-them Only 11% of creative directors are women: https://www.adweek.com/digital/pinterest-right-the-ratio/ FREE RESOURCES Free Ebook: https://www.assertivenessebook.com/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theartofspeakingup/ Art of Speaking Up email newsletter signup: https://jessguzikcoaching.com/newsletter/

I would be overjoyed if you promised me this one thing: next time you’re debating whether you should share your idea out loud or not, DO IT. I really, really, really want you to do it. I want you to do it so badly that I started and named a podcast around this entire topic. For a long while, I thought I was the only weirdo who would stew and chew over an idea in a meeting and never actually share it, out of sheer paranoia that my idea was secretly dumb. But many of us are keeping our ideas to ourselves, not even aware that we’re applying perfectionistic standards to all of our ideas before we give ourselves permission to share them. Here’s where I’ve landed on the question of whether an idea deserves to be shared out loud: If an idea comes to you, it’s worth sharing. It’s very normal to question whether an idea is ‘good enough,’ and it can be a difficult habit to break. And as you’ll hear Rose and I discuss in this episode, we both went through a period of time where we only shared our ideas if we could make them sound super fancy and smart. Which is better, I guess, than not sharing them at all, but the thing is – the best approach is simply to share, and not waste any brain space or emotional energy evaluating, judging, and editing our ideas. Because as women, we are incredibly creative and intelligent, and our gifts are best used sharing and discussing our ideas - not editing or filtering them. And besides – why edit something that’s good enough as it is? Rose is an incredibly gifted coach – I especially love her approach to mindset. If you want to learn more about her coaching, or get in touch with her – check out her site: www.rosekirby.com FREE RESOURCES: Free Ebook: https://www.assertivenessebook.com/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theartofspeakingup/ Art of Speaking Up email newsletter signup: https://jessguzikcoaching.com/newsletter/

In this episode, I share a little bit about my inspiration for creating the show. Spoiler: I was incredibly awkward, shy, and insecure in my early 20s. And I was alone, with no mentors to help me through it. And it was one of the most un-fun times in my career. I don’t want any woman to go through some of the struggles I encountered and feel like she’s alone. Whatever someone’s career struggle may be – whether it relates to confidence, fear, anxiety, frustration (or like me, all of the above) – I think it’s so important to have more voices out there unequivocally telling women this one very important thing: The way that you are feeling is okay. As women, we simply don’t hear this enough. And in fact, we often hear the opposite – we’re not only told that we need to look, act, and behave perfectly – but we’re often subtly & sneakily told that if something is hard for us, we are somehow to blame. And that we should quickly fix, or hide, whatever is wrong. I want to start a dialogue around professional women’s empowerment that tells women the opposite. That they’re awesome, and that anything that’s a struggle for them is normal. And I especially want to remind them how amazing and talented they are, because I think one of the most important ingredients in women’s empowerment is helping women see and understand their own power. And that’s my goal for the show: to help you see how incredible you actually are, so that you can go after your career goals with reckless abandon. I hope you enjoy it! FREE RESOURCES: Free Ebook: https://www.assertivenessebook.com/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theartofspeakingup/ Art of Speaking Up email newsletter signup: https://jessguzikcoaching.com/newsletter/