Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Yasar Ahmad Podcast

Get the full course here: Limited time only! https://yasarahmad.samcart.com/products/get-hired-in-72-hours-the-complete-job-search-system______Struggling with the infamous “Tell me about yourself” question? Yeah, you’re not alone. Most people answer it like they’re reading their Resume out loud… in slow motion. This free lesson cuts through the fluff and shows you exactly how to craft an answer that actually makes a hiring manager think, “Okay, this person gets it.”You’ll learn:Why this question exists (hint: it’s not to torture you… mostly).The psychology behind what interviewers really want.A simple, repeatable structure that instantly elevates your answer.Real examples - the good, the bad, and the “please don’t ever say this again.”Think of this lesson as a sneak peek into the full system I teach inside my complete job-search program. If this helps you land even one interview, imagine what the full framework can do.If you're tired of winging it and hoping for the best, go deeper and get the full blueprint.Sharp truth: You can’t control who interviews you, but you can control whether you walk in sounding forgettable or unforgettable. Your call.

In this episode of The Talent Community Podcast, we sit down with Deepak Parija, Chief Talent Officer at Wipro, to explore what it takes to lead talent strategy for over 240,000 employees across 60+ countries. Interviewed by Yasar Ahmad, VP of People at HelloFresh, Deepak shares his insights on:

🔹 The biggest leadership challenges of 2025 and how to prepare for them
🔹 Reskilling at scale and the role of AI in the future of talent
🔹 How to build a leadership culture that thrives in a fast-changing world
🔹 Lessons from leading at one of the world’s largest organizations

Most people think you need a promotion to become influential at work. You don't. You need a system.In this video, I break down the exact 5-step framework that took a mid-level project manager from completely invisible to influencing decisions three levels above her pay grade in just 18 months. No promotion. No longer hours. Just strategic, systematic influence-building backed by behavioural science.If you're tired of being overlooked, ignored in meetings, or waiting for someone to finally notice your competence—this is how you manufacture your own opportunities.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:→ How to identify and dominate specific "influence territories" instead of trying to be visible everywhere (and burning out)→ The 4 campaign types you can run to systematically build credibility in your chosen domains→ Why visibility without strategy is just noise—and how to be strategically visible in high-leverage contexts→ How to build a coalition of sponsors and advocates who have a vested interest in your success→ The exact playbook to institutionalise your influence so it becomes structural, not personalThis isn't motivational fluff. This is the systematic approach I've used to advise C-suite executives across Amazon, Google, HelloFresh, and the NHS.RESOURCES TO ACCELERATE YOUR CAREER:📊 Find Out Where You Stand: Free Personal Visibility DiagnosticNot sure which of these 5 steps you need to focus on first? Take my free diagnostic assessment and get a personalised roadmap for building influence in your specific situation.👉 https://ovdlab.com/📚 My 6 Bestselling Career Strategy Ebooks (Complete Bundle)Deep-dive scripts on toxic workplaces, salary negotiation, office politics, workplace influence, and more. These aren't generic career books—they're tactical, research-backed playbooks for professionals who want real strategies, not motivational quotes.👉 https://shop.yasarahmad.com/products/ultimate-bestseller-bundle-all-6-books📥 20+ Free Workplace Guides & ScriptsReady-to-use scripts for difficult conversations, negotiation frameworks, boundary-setting templates, and more. Download the exact language and frameworks I've tested with thousands of professionals.👉 https://www.yasarahmad.com/downloads🎯 Get Hired in 72 Hours: Complete Job Search SystemIf you're looking to move roles (and leverage your new influence), this is the systematic approach to landing interviews and offers fast. No spray-and-pray applications. No waiting months for responses.👉 https://yasarahmad.samcart.com/products/get-hired-in-72-hours-the-complete-job-search-systemLET'S CONNECT:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasarahmad/🌐 Website: https://www.yasarahmad.com📧 Business Enquiries: hello@yasarahmad.comIf this video helped you see influence differently, hit the like button and subscribe. It genuinely helps this content reach other professionals who are ready to stop being invisible.Which of the 5 steps are you currently strongest at? Let me know in the comments. 👇#CareerStrategy #WorkplaceInfluence #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment

Stop Being "Nice" at Work - It's Destroying Your Career - I firmly believe someone needs to hear this: Stop being nice at work at the expense of being real.CONNECT WITH ME: 📱 Instagram: @yasarahmad_ 💼 LinkedIn: Yasar Ahmad 🌐 Website: www.yasarahmad.com 🎓 OVD Lab: www.ovdlab.com🎯 RESOURCES:Take the OVD Visibility Diagnostic (Find out your visibility score and where you're going wrong at work): 👉 www.ovdlab.comGet the Toxic Workplace E-book (The Ultimate Guide, Scripts and Hidden Rules to Toxic Workplaces): 👉 https://shop.yasarahmad.com/______After 15+ years in HR leadership working with Amazon, Google, Deloitte, and scaling HelloFresh from 6,000 to 25,000 employees, I've seen one pattern destroy more careers than anything else - people who are too "nice" get steamrolled.Here's the brutal truth: Only 10% of career progression comes from performance. 30% is image. And 60%? That's exposure. But when you're busy being nice, saying yes to everything, and avoiding difficult conversations, you're not building exposure - you're building resentment.In this video, I break down:Why "nice" gets you nowhere (and the science behind it)The critical difference between being nice vs being kind at workThe exact frameworks and phrases to set boundaries without being difficultHow to say "no" professionally without over-explainingThe "I need to be real with you" conversation starter that changes everythingThe competence-likeability trade-off is real. Research shows that assertiveness + competence = promotability. But agreeable people who are just "nice"? They stay stuck.You can be professional, respected, AND authentic. You just need to stop performing niceness and start practising kindness through honesty.ABOUT YASAR: I'm a 20+ award-winning Talent & Organisational Change leader, named #1 Most Influential Talent Leader in the World by Recruiter Magazine for 3 consecutive years. I've strategised for First Ministers, C-suite executives, and built a community of nearly 1 million professionals learning evidence-based career strategies.Founder of OVD Lab | Author of "Toxic Workplace" | Speaker at NHS, Amazon, Google, Deloitte, Spotify, Oracle & more.#careeradvice #workplacetips #professionaldevelopment #careergrowth #workplaceboundaries #leadershiptips #careersuccess #toxicworkplace #workplacestrategy #professionalgrowth #careerprogression #workplacecommunication #behaviouralscience #YasarAhmad #OVDLab📧 For business enquiries: hello@yasarahmad.comIf this video helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Let's build a community of professionals who succeed by being real, not just nice.What's one situation this week where you'll be real instead of nice? Drop it in the comments below. 👇

Most career advice tells you to "think positive" or "manifest success." The Stoics? They tell you the truth: you can't control what happens to you at work, but you can control how you respond to it.This isn't motivational fluff. These are 20 ancient principles from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus—that directly apply to the chaos of modern work: anxiety before presentations, toxic colleagues, difficult stakeholders, missed promotions, and the constant pressure to perform.📊 Struggling with workplace toxicity or career stagnation?Take the OVD Diagnostic to identify exactly what's holding you back: www.ovdlab.com📖 Get the Toxic Workplace Survival Guide:Evidence-based strategies to protect your mental health and career trajectory: https://shop.yasarahmad.com/About this channel:I'm Yasar Ahmad—former corporate executive, with 15+ years working with companies like Amazon, Google, Deloitte, and the NHS. Named #1 Most Influential Talent Leader globally for three consecutive years. I translate HR insider knowledge and workplace behavioural science into actionable strategies for your career.This channel isn't about generic career advice. It's about understanding how workplace systems actually operate and using that knowledge strategically.Subscribe for weekly videos on:✓ Workplace psychology and behavioural science✓ Salary negotiation from an HR perspective✓ Office politics and influence-building✓ Toxic workplace survival strategies✓ Career advancement frameworks that actually work#stoicism #careeradvice #workplacetoxicity #professionaldevelopment #careergrowth #workplaceanxiety #leadership #marcusaurelius #seneca #workplaceculture #careerstrategy #officepoliticsLet's connect:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasarahmad/Website: www.ovdlab.comThe Stoics understood something most modern career advisors miss: clarity and calm aren't about positive thinking—they're about accurate thinking. This video shows you how to apply that principle to the daily reality of your work.

Most people think they know what they don’t know. They’re wrong.

This episode is about the blind spots that hold you back — the skills, habits, and assumptions you don’t even realize are working against you.
I break down how to spot them, what to do when you find them, and why true growth only happens when you admit you’ve been operating in the dark.

If you’ve ever thought you were self-aware — this one will test that.

Let’s get uncomfortable — that’s where the progress hides.

CONNECT WITH MEInstagram: instagram.com/Yasarahmad_TikTok: tiktok.com/@Yasarahmad_Facebook: facebook.com/YasarAhmadWinatWorkThreads: threads.com/@Yasarahmad_All links and resources: bio.yasarahmad.com

Join the conversation
What’s an unknown unknown you’ve recently discovered about yourself? Drop it in the comments or email me at hello@yasarahmad.com — I might feature it in a future episode.

Welcome to the first episode of The Rules of Work - where we cut through the nonsense and talk about what actually matters at work.

In this episode, I break down how to get in control - of your emotions, your reputation, and your direction. No fluff. No buzzwords. Just practical tools and sharp insights to help you stop reacting and start leading.

If you’ve ever felt like work was running you instead of the other way around, this one’s for you.

Let’s make work make sense again.

CONNECT WITH MEInstagram: instagram.com/Yasarahmad_TikTok: tiktok.com/@Yasarahmad_Facebook: facebook.com/YasarAhmadWinatWorkThreads: threads.com/@Yasarahmad_All links and resources: bio.yasarahmad.com

Join the conversation
Drop your questions or thoughts in the comments — or email me directly at hello@yasarahmad.com. I’ll feature the best ones in a future episode.

Subscribe to my newsletter here: https://bio.yasarahmad.com/Newsletter

Don't FORGET, please subscribe to this channel, I'll be sharing more knowledge videos on the workplace including strategy and techniques to grow your career and get paid more.

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10 workplace truths your boss won’t tell you - but I will.I’m Yasar, one of the most influential HR leaders in the world, followed by over 550,000 professionals who want to win at work.

In this video, I break down the hard-hitting lessons that separate those who stay stuck from those who get promoted. What you’ll learn today:

• Why hard work without visibility keeps you invisibleHow to speak up so your boss actually listens
• The real place where decisions get made (hint: not the meeting)
• Why results beat loyalty every single time
• The mindset shift that makes promotions possible

If you’ve ever wondered why you’re underpaid, overlooked, or left out of the big decisions - this is the small window into the roadmap.

In this episode of the Talent Community Podcast, host Yasar Ahmad sits down with Roopesh Panchasra, Vice President of Global Executive Recruiting & GTM Talent Acquisition at ServiceNow, to explore the nuanced world of executive recruitment, leadership qualities, and the evolving impact of AI in hiring. 🌍

Roopesh shares his strategies for building bionic teams, the importance of a strong personal brand, and how microdosing on discipline can transform both professional and personal growth. The discussion dives deep into skills-based hiring, the challenges of hiring bias, and why stoicism and discipline are crucial traits for leaders navigating complex environments. 🚀

🔑 Top Takeaways:

✅ Executive recruitment is about finding leaders who transform, not just fit roles.

✅ Personal branding is a game-changer for standing out in the recruitment field.

✅ Bionic teams combine creativity, intellect, and an appetite for learning.

✅ AI can streamline recruitment processes but can't replace the human touch.

✅ Microdosing on discipline helps maintain consistency and long-term success.

💡 “We don’t hire résumés—we hire stories.”📌

#Leadership #BionicTeams #AIinRecruitment #SkillsBasedHiring #PersonalBrand #Stoicism #Discipline #TalentAcquisition #HRStrategies

🎙️ Navigating Leadership at Scale | Dorit Schindler | Talent Community Podcast

In this episode of the Talent Community Podcast, host Yasar Ahmad sits down with Dorit Schindler, Senior Vice President of People and Organization at Flix, to explore the complexities of leadership, fostering a strong company culture, and leading with empathy. 🌱

Dorit shares powerful insights on how reskilling, embracing a growth mindset, and making data-driven decisions are essential for effective talent management and personal development. Learn how continuous self-improvement and creating psychological safety can transform leadership and help teams thrive during times of change. 🚀

🔑 Top Takeaways:

✅ Leadership is about asking the right questions and listening deeply.

✅ Culture is shaped by tough decisions, not just slogans.

✅ Empathy and appreciation are critical, especially during transformation.

✅ Continuous learning and personal habits like exercise fuel leadership growth.

✅ Embrace change as an opportunity, not an obstacle.💡 “Culture is not just a poster; it's a decision made during tough times.”

✨ Don’t miss out on Dorit’s practical tips for stepping up in leadership and developing resilience in today’s fast-paced work environment!🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on HR strategies, leadership, and continuous learning!

👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 📢 Share#Leadership

#CompanyCulture #Empathy #Reskilling #GrowthMindset #DataDrivenDecisions #ContinuousLearning #PersonalDevelopment #HRStrategies #TalentManagement

🔗 Take the FREE 5-Minute Career Diagnostic: https://www.ovdlab.comIdentify the specific gaps holding you back in your career. The diagnostic assessment helps you pinpoint exactly where to focus — whether it is confidence, visibility, communication, relationships, or strategic positioning — so you can stop guessing and start growing with clarity.

The most persuasive people almost never ask for what they want directly — and here's why.

In this video, I'm breaking down 7 psychological frameworks used by top negotiators, leaders, and communicators to get people to say yes without ever feeling pressured.

From the Harvard-backed "Because Framework" (which boosted compliance from 60% to 94%) to the Collaborative Frame that completely changed my career — these are the exact techniques that make requests feel like the other person's own idea.

What you'll learn:

• The Assumed Close — how to remove "no" as an option
• The Because Framework — the one word that triggers automatic compliance
• Future Pacing — making yes feel inevitable before you've even asked
• The Contrast Principle — the negotiator's secret weapon
• The Collaborative Frame — the phrase that changed everything for me
• The Scarcity Statement — honest urgency that actually works
• The Reciprocity Opener — why the ask starts long before you ask

Whether you're heading into a salary negotiation, a tough meeting, or just trying to get a colleague to respond — this toolkit will change how you communicate.

17 Years of Leadership Advice in 21 Minutes | Global VP, $10B CompanyWhat does it actually take to lead at the highest levels of a global organisation? After 17 years in the trenches from managing people problems to sitting in the boardroom of a $10 billion company, I'm sharing everything I wish someone had told me earlier.In this video, I break down the 12 leadership lessons that shaped my career as a Global VP, covering the real, unglamorous truths that most leadership books leave out.Here's what we cover:Why parenting and leadership have more in common than you thinkHow to handle people problems before they spiralThe power of repetition (and why leaders underestimate it)Making decisions when you genuinely don't know the answerWhy letting go of control is the hardest, and most important, skill you'll developHow trust is earnt, not givenMastering context switching in a fast-moving organisationWhy clarity is your single greatest superpower as a leaderUsing storytelling to bring your team with youThe quiet power of staying calm under pressureWhy iteration beats perfection every timeHow to communicate in a way that actually landsWhether you're a first-time manager or a seasoned executive, these lessons apply at every level. No fluff, no theory, just hard-won experience distilled into 21 minutes.If this resonates, hit subscribe, I share honest, practical leadership content every week.#Leadership #LeadershipAdvice #Management #CareerGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership

In this episode I talk about how to stay positive in a negative situation. Between what happens to you and how you react — there is a gap.That gap is where your power lives. Viktor Frankl called it the space between stimulus and response.Train it. Daily.Separate signal from noise.When chaos hits the workplace, pause and ask:"Is this actually within my control?"You can't control the storm.But you can control the sailor.When negativity strikes — use the 5-Why Reset.Ask: "Why does this bother me?"Then ask again. And again.Is this a values misalignment?A behaviour pattern?A development gap?Naming it strips it of its power.Reframe every setback as content.The Stoics called this amor fati — love of fate.Your hardest moments aren't interruptions to your purpose.They are your purpose."Negativity is loud. Strategy is quiet. Choose quiet."Protect your hegemonikon — your ruling mind.Epictetus taught that nothing external can disturb you without your permission."Your reaction is the only thing in this situation that belongs entirely to you."Measure your day by effort. Not outcome.The Stoics called outcomes preferred indifferents — worth pursuing, but never worth your peace.Because the obstacle isn't in your way.It IS the way.

OFFER, VALUE, DEAL

The Science to Success at Work

by YASAR AHMAD

This comprehensive audio books takes you through 11 chapters of successful techniques, habits and strategic practices to proper at work.

The audio book is in celebration of the launch of OVDLab. If you have'nt already check out www.ovdlab.com for your chance to get coached directly by Yasar.

Find out more here:

https://ovdlab.com/lastday/you

Most career advice is about doing more. More networking. More skills. More hustle. But the Japanese have spent centuries mastering the opposite and it works.In this video, I break down 5 Japanese minimalist principles that will help you cut the noise, focus on what actually matters, and build a career with intention instead of burnout.You'll learn:→ The concept that tells you exactly where to focus your energy→ Why strategic pauses accelerate your career (not stall it)→ How tiny daily improvements outperform big career pivots→ The Japanese art of cutting what doesn't serve you→ Why your "imperfect" career path is actually your biggest advantage🔬 Take the FREE OVD Diagnostic Tool to assess your workplace: https://ovdlab.com/assessment📩 Join the newsletter for weekly career strategies: https://newsletter.yasarahmad.com/#careeradvice #japanesephilosophy #minimalism #workplacestrategy #careergrowth #ikigai #kaizen

👇 Grab the free visibility diagnostic in the description to find out your visibility score and exactly where you're going wrong at work.https://www.ovdlab.comSomeone questions your expertise mid-meeting. The room goes quiet. What you say next will either cost you the room or command it.In this video, I'm giving you the exact phrase that instantly reclaims your authority when your expertise is challenged, along with seven tactical variations you can deploy depending on the situation whether you're in a boardroom, on a stakeholder call, or caught off guard in a corridor.Most professionals either over-explain, get defensive, or freeze entirely. All three responses signal uncertainty and hand power straight to the person challenging you. This video shows you how to respond — not react — using a framework rooted in behavioural science and Stoic philosophy.Here's what you'll learn:Why your instinctive response is sabotaging your credibilityThe single sentence that reclaims authority without aggression or arroganceSeven variations suited to every professional contextHow to handle persistent questioners without losing composureThe three fatal mistakes that undo everything — even after you've nailed the phraseThe Stoic mindset that makes this approach bulletproof long-termThis isn't about being combative. It's about calm, grounded command — the kind that senior professionals and high-performing leaders project naturally.#executivepresence #CareerAdvice #CommunicationSkills #leadershipdevelopment #ConfidenceAtWork #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkplaceConfidence #StoicPhilosophy #PublicSpeaking #CareerGrowth

You wouldn't accept the same salary for ten years and pretend you're fine. So why accept the same version of yourself and expect your relationship to survive?"I've spent 15+ years studying workplace dynamics. Turns out, the same principles that build high-performing teams also build stronger relationships. Here are 5 workplace strategies that translate directly to your personal life backed by behavioural science, not relationship clichés.www.ovdlab.comwww.yasarahmad.comHello@yasarahmad.com

📊 Struggling with career visibility or workplace dynamics?Take the OVD Diagnostic to identify exactly what's holding you back: www.ovdlab.com____How to answer "What are your Salary Expectations?" - Without Losing Money! Every time you answer this question honestly, you're probably leaving £5,000–£15,000 on the table. I spent 15 years in HR leadership—at Amazon, Google, HelloFresh—and watched brilliant candidates talk themselves into lower salaries repeatedly. Today, that stops.This isn't vague negotiation advice. This is the exact playbook the most successful negotiators use to handle salary expectations across every scenario: application forms, email exchanges, and live phone calls.What you'll learn:About this channel:I'm Yasar Ahmad #1 Most Influential Talent Leader & Leadership Coach. I don't give generic career advice. I translate HR insider knowledge into tactical strategies you can use immediately.Subscribe for weekly videos on:✓ Salary negotiation from an HR insider's perspective✓ Interview strategies that actually work✓ Office politics and influence-building✓ Workplace psychology and behavioural science✓ Career advancement frameworks backed by evidence#salarynegotiation #careeradvice #interviewtips #jobsearch #salaryexpectations #negotiation #careergrowth #joboffer #hrtips #workplaceadvice #careerstrategy #professionaldev

STOP Miscommunication at Work (Before It Destroys Your Credibility)Miscommunication isn't a soft skill problem. It's a credibility problem. And it's costing you influence, opportunities, and mental energy every single day.I spent 15 years in HR leadership watching the same communication breakdowns repeat across Amazon, Google, HelloFresh, and the NHS. The people who advanced fastest weren't the smartest or the hardest working—they were the ones who eliminated miscommunication systematically.This video shows you exactly how they did it.What you'll learn:Why most miscommunication isn't about what you said—it's about what the other person heard (and why that distinction matters)The clarity framework: how to structure messages so they can't be misinterpretedWhy "I thought it was obvious" is the most dangerous phrase in workplace communicationThe confirmation loop: a simple technique that prevents 90% of follow-up confusionHow to communicate under pressure without creating more problemsThe difference between communicating to inform and communicating to be understood (most people get this catastrophically wrong)This isn't about being nicer or more empathetic. It's about being precise. The Stoics understood this: clarity of message requires clarity of thought first. When you eliminate miscommunication, you eliminate the chaos that comes with it—the follow-up meetings, the defensive emails, the damaged relationships, the missed deadlines.Your communication clarity is your professional signature. Make it count.📊 Struggling with workplace dynamics or career visibility?Take the OVD Diagnostic to identify exactly what's holding you back: www.ovdlab.comSubscribe for weekly videos on:✓ Workplace communication and influence✓ Office politics and stakeholder management✓ Career advancement frameworks that actually work✓ Workplace psychology backed by evidence✓ Leadership strategies from an HR perspective#communication #workplacecommunication #careeradvice #professionaldevelopment #leadership #officepolitics #workplaceadvice #careergrowth #miscommunication #workplacetips #careerstrategy

Your job is not your identity. Your career is not your worth. And your current struggle at work is not a reflection of who you are as a person.This is a short, no-nonsense reminder for anyone who's tied their entire sense of self to their job title, their performance review, or their latest workplace setback. You are so much more than what you do for money.If you're going through a tough time right now whether it's a toxic workplace, a missed promotion, burnout, or just the daily grind wearing you down this one's for you.What this video covers:Why your job is what you do, not who you areHow to separate your self-worth from your work performanceA perspective shift that helps you get through difficult workplace momentsWhy the people who matter most don't care about your job titleThis isn't career strategy. It's a reality check. A moment to step back and remember what actually matters.📊 Need help navigating workplace challenges?Take the OVD Diagnostic: www.ovdlab.com📖 Get the Toxic Workplace Survival Guide:https://shop.yasarahmad.com/About this channel:I'm Yasar Ahmad—15+ years in HR leadership at Amazon, Google, HelloFresh, and the NHS. Named #1 Most Influential Talent Leader globally for three consecutive years. I give you the workplace truth most people won't say out loud.#motivation #careeradvice #worklifebalance #mentalhealth #workplacetoxicity #burnout #perspective #selfworth #careergrowth #workplaceadvice

You know your point. So why are you still talking?🔍 Find out exactly where you're losing visibility at work:Free diagnostic → https://www.ovdlab.com/assessment📚 Deeper playbooks and frameworks:https://www.ovdlab.com/shopMost professionals over-explain not because they lack confidence but because nobody ever taught them to cut. This video changes that.In this video you'll get:→ The real reason smart people ramble (it's not nerves)→ 5 moves concise communicators use that you can copy this week→ The 60-to-10 drill — a practice you can run before your next meetingPart 2 drops soon - how to make your point land like it came from someone two levels above you.—#WinAtWork #WorkplaceCommunication #CareerAdvice #ExecutivePresence #CommunicationSkills #Leadership #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment

Most professionals think working harder is enough. It isn't.🔍 Discover your workplace visibility score: www.ovdlab.com🛒 Resources to help you win at work: https://www.ovdlab.com/bioThe mistake that holds people back at work isn't poor performance it's invisibility. You can be the most capable person in the room and still get passed over, if the right people don't know what you're actually delivering.In this video, I break down exactly why visibility gets overlooked, what it's costing you, and the specific shift you need to make to change it.What you'll learn:Why high performers are the most at risk of being invisible at workThe real reason your results aren't translating into recognition or progressionA practical approach to making your work visible — without playing politics or self-promoting awkwardlyThis is the kind of thing nobody teaches you — but every HR leader knows it separates the people who progress from the people who plateau.#CareerAdvice #WorkplaceStrategy #CareerGrowth #WinAtWork #ProfessionalDevelopment

Go to https://www.ovdlab.com/assessment to start you're assessment.If you want to skip the assessment and join now go to: https://ovdlab.com/for/You

Answering Difficult Career Questions From The Internet!After 15+ years inside global leadership roles working with leaders from Amazon, Google, Deloitte, and the NHS, and scaling HelloFresh from a few thousand employees into the tens of thousands, I've seen these exact situations play out hundreds of times. What works. What hiring managers actually think when they read your resume. The career moves you'll regret making and the ones you'll regret not making.In this video I'm answering 7 real questions from working professionals stuck in genuinely difficult workplace situations.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• How long is too long to wait before following up after an interview (and the exact rhythm to use)
• The precise words to use when explaining a medical leave gap so it lands as resilience, not a red flag
• When to raise scope creep in a new role without sounding transactional or money-driven
• The proactive transparency play that quietly switches off a micromanager's anxiety
• How to shut down a colleague who belittles you in front of your direct reports, in real time
• What to do when HR has already sided with a narcissistic manager
• The honest truth about 1-2 year job hopping in conservative sectors

• Career strategy from inside the HR machine
• Salary negotiation tactics rooted in behavioural science
• Stoic philosophy applied to modern work
• Communication and influence advice you can use on Monday morning

The workplace doesn't reward the most talented people. It rewards the ones who know how the game is actually played.________________________________________GOT A QUESTION - ASK IT HERE!https://ovdlab.com/youtube-questionsWHERE TO GO NEXT:Not sure where you're stuck in your career right now? The OVD Lab diagnostic tells you in 5 minutes. Free. Take it here: https://www.ovdlab.com/assessmentFor deeper frameworks on salary negotiation, workplace influence, and career strategy, the full library lives here: https://ovdlab.com/shop/bundleWeekly newsletter (workplace strategy delivered every Sunday): https://newsletter.yasarahmad.com________________________________________ABOUT THIS CHANNEL:I'm Yasar Ahmad. I teach what I learned inside those rooms. Insider HR strategy, behavioural science, and Stoic philosophy applied to the careers of working professionals.________________________________________SUBSCRIBE IF YOU WANT:________________________________________FIND ME EVERYWHERE:Bio Link: https://www.ovdlab.com/bioWebsite: https://www.yasarahmad.comFor business and speaking enquiries: hello@yasarahmad.com

On the 1st of August, a computer did something no human had done. It solved ten open problems in maths. A Fields Medal winner looked at the proof and said he would send it to a top journal without hesitation.That is not the part that keeps me up at night.Everyone is bracing for a jobs recession. I am not. I spent twenty years in boardrooms signing off restructures. Jobs vanish. Jobs appear. That number always moves.What is coming is quieter. I call it the judgement recession.We are about to raise a generation of professionals who have never been wrong about anything that mattered. Because we are handing the hard bit to the machine, and the hard bit is where judgement gets made. Judgement is not taught. It is a scar. You get it by being wrong in a room where it costs you something.And we are removing the rooms.In this video I break down where we actually are in 2026, why entry level hiring is already freezing, why the real risk will not show up in a headline until 2030, and the one thing I want you to start doing this week to protect the only skill that will not be automated.Pick the hard thing. Do that bit by hand. Give the machine everything else.And if you manage anyone junior, let them be wrong. You are not being inefficient. You are building the only thing that lasts.New here? I am Yasar. Over twenty years in corporate HR, most recently a Global VP at HelloFresh, before building Win at Work. I make videos about career strategy, executive presence, and thinking clearly in a world that is automating fast. Subscribe if that is your kind of thing.Get my newsletter: https://newsletter.yasarahmad.com/Work with me at OVD Labs: https://www.ovdlab.com#FutureOfWork #AI #CareerAdvice #ArtificialIntelligence #Leadership #ExecutivePresence

The man hired to clean up FIFA just ran the biggest decision in sport as one man. That is the leadership and governance failure that quietly plays out in ordinary companies every week, and almost nobody catches it until it's too late.____As mentioned in the video:Complete my free career diagnostic. Learn about the secret rules holding you back and how to fix it! 5000 people have already completed it. Dont get left behind. 👉🏽https://ovdlab.com/assessment____In 2016 Gianni Infantino took over a governing body drowning in corruption. The brief was simple: end the one-man rule, make the money visible, build checks so no single person could run the sport like it belonged to them. Ten years later he is the one being asked to resign, after a $4 billion plan his own chief operating officer found out about from the press. This is how a reformer becomes the thing he was sent to fix, and why the real failure happened in 2016, not 2026.If you lead people, or you are watching someone brilliant slowly become the only person who decides anything, this one is for you. You will get the three moves that keep power honest: stress-test the plan against the people most likely to kill it, never let your senior team read your strategy in the news, and hand anything that touches your own legacy to someone else. The best leaders don't ask to be trusted. They build the thing that means nobody has to.Subscribe for the stuff nobody tells you about how work actually works, from someone who sat on the deciding side of the table. Want it in your inbox? My newsletter breaks down one lesson like this every week.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Newsletter: https://newsletter.yasarahmad.com/Website: https://www.yasarahmad.comCoaching: https://www.ovdlab.com/forBlog: https://ovdlab.com/blogContact: Hello@yasarahmad.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━#Leadership #Management #FIFA #Infantino #WinAtWork

School rewards your child for doing what they're told. The working world pays for the opposite, and hardly anyone closes that gap in time.____As mentioned in the video:Complete my free career diagnostic. Learn about the secret rules holding you back and how to fix it! 5000 people have already completed it. Dont get left behind. 👉🏽https://ovdlab.com/assessment____I spent years running hiring and talent, deciding who got promoted, who got paid, and who quietly left. In all that time, the most obedient person on the team never once got the job.The thing school measures is obedience, and it's the wrong thing to measure. The behaviours that earn a child a glowing report (do as you're told, don't interrupt, don't get it wrong in front of everyone) are the same behaviours that keep capable adults overlooked at work for 20 years. If you were the good kid who did everything right and then watched someone louder take the thing you wanted, you already have the evidence.This is for parents who don't want their child to inherit that. The entry-level job that used to teach all of it, being wrong and being told no near someone who knew better, is disappearing, so it gets learned at home or not at all. I go through three things you can do at the kitchen table this year: let them be wrong without rescuing them, make them ask for things directly and sometimes hear no, and let them disagree with you properly. A child who can disagree with you at 14 becomes an adult who can disagree with the chief executive at 34, and that person gets paid.If you want the working world explained the way it actually operates, not the polite version, subscribe and join the newsletter below. It's where I break down how promotion and pay really get decided, and how capable people finally get taken seriously.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Newsletter: https://newsletter.yasarahmad.com/Website: https://www.yasarahmad.comCoaching: https://www.ovdlab.com/forBlog: https://ovdlab.com/blogSocials: https://ovdlab.com/bioBooks: https://ovdlab.com/shop/bundleContact: Hello@yasarahmad.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━#CareerAdvice #RaisingKids #FutureOfWork #WinAtWork

Most senior leaders can't verify whether you deliver. They can only verify whether you stay calm when something goes wrong. That's why steady, well-spoken people get promoted while stronger performers wait, and it's where this Q&A starts.____As mentioned in the video:Complete my free career diagnostic. Learn about the secret rules holding you back and how to fix it! 5000 people have already completed it. Dont get left behind. 👉🏽https://ovdlab.com/assessment____After that, I answer five career questions you sent in. How to survive a toxic job when you can't afford to walk away yet. What actually works when being assertive gets you labelled bossy. Which skills survive as AI takes over analysis and drafting. And how to get a pay rise when the company keeps insisting there's no budget.This is for the capable person who's good at the job and stuck on the pay and recognition they expected by now. Watch it and you'll walk away with the exact line to use when you're told the budget is frozen, and a clearer read on what really gets you noticed.Subscribe for how work actually operates, minus the fluff. And if you want to know exactly where you're stuck right now, take the free 5-minute Career Diagnostic at ovdlab.com. It tells you where to focus.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Newsletter: https://newsletter.yasarahmad.com/Website: https://www.yasarahmad.comCoaching: https://www.ovdlab.com/forBlog: https://ovdlab.com/blogSocials: https://ovdlab.com/bioBooks: https://ovdlab.com/shop/bundleContact: Hello@yasarahmad.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━#CareerAdvice #GetPromoted #WinAtWork #Leadership

Most people scroll past their company values as corporate mumbo jumbo on a wall. Used properly, those same values are the sharpest accountability tool you have at work, for holding yourself in check and for steering a room without ever telling someone they're wrong. Recorded from the car, so bear with me. I break down the three values I actually run my work on: relentless prioritisation, customer centricity, and data centricity, plus long-term orientation for anyone building in the age of AI. Each one is a decision filter. Prioritisation keeps you honest about what matters. Customer centricity pulls you back to the real problem when analysis paralysis sets in. Data centricity stops a good-sounding idea moving forward with nothing behind it.If you sit in meetings full of ideas and no direction, or you judge your weaknesses against everyone else's strengths and come away feeling behind, this one is for you. You will get a simple way to disagree that keeps you respected: name what you like about the idea, then anchor the decision to a shared value so the conversation moves without anyone losing face. The real question in any disagreement isn't who's right. It's what would need to be true for you to agree.

Executive presence isn't charisma you're born with. It's one learnable skill, clarity, and it's the reason some people sound senior the moment they open their mouth while sharper colleagues get overlooked for years.____As mentioned in the video:Complete my free career diagnostic. Learn about the secret rules holding you back and how to fix it! 5000 people have already completed it. Dont get left behind. 👉🏽https://ovdlab.com/assessment____For years I sat in the rooms where careers actually get decided: who gets promoted, who gets the budget, who quietly gets passed over. The same mistake comes up again and again. Smart people build their case brick by brick and save the point for the end, and the room drifts before they land it. This video gives you the fix: lead with the answer, name the one thing that matters, get specific, and frame the decision around what people stand to lose, not what they'll gain.If you do great work but struggle to be heard in meetings, this one is for you. You'll also get the move that quietly makes you the most senior voice in the room, even on a subject you know less about than anyone else: the sharpest question beats the best answer every time. Your one thing to try tomorrow is simple. Before you say anything else, open with a plain sentence that names the decision on the table, then watch the room turn towards you.Want to see where your own visibility is leaking? I built a free diagnostic at OVD Labs that shows you the single gap costing your career right now. It takes a few minutes, link below. Subscribe for the stuff nobody tells you about how work actually works.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Newsletter: https://newsletter.yasarahmad.com/Website: https://www.yasarahmad.comCoaching: https://www.ovdlab.com/forBlog: https://ovdlab.com/blogSocials: https://ovdlab.com/bioBooks: https://ovdlab.com/shop/bundleContact: Hello@yasarahmad.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━#ExecutivePresence #CareerAdvice #Leadership #Communication #WinAtWork

How you frame an idea at work decides whether it gets a yes or a wall of "why". Tell your boss "I need £300K to upgrade the platform" and watch the questions pile up. Reframe it as "can we afford to lose £3 million in our busiest period if it drops?" and the room goes quiet.____As mentioned in the video:Complete my free career diagnostic. Learn about the secret rules holding you back and how to fix it! 5000 people have already completed it. Dont get left behind. 👉🏽https://ovdlab.com/assessment____The real lesson sits underneath the word "why": framing, and loss aversion. When you feel challenged at work you start justifying yourself, and that's the moment you lose the room. The better move is to change the words and put the risk in front of people, because we feel a loss around 2.5 times harder than we feel a gain. That's Kahneman's work, and it's why a stolen £100 stings more than a found £100 ever lands. Frame the cost and people ask why. Frame the risk and they ask whether they can afford not to.I also cover the three questions I run before any messy decision: can it be automated, is it human-shaped, and can I reverse it if it's wrong. And why building real values into how you decide beats leaning on gut and memory every time. If you do brilliant work but keep getting talked past in meetings, this one is for you. You'll walk away able to reframe any pitch so leadership hears the stakes, not just the price tag.Subscribe for more on how work actually operates: the politics, and the decisions that get made about you when you're not in the room. The newsletter's below if you want it in writing each week, and there's a free 5-minute career assessment that shows you where you're stuck and what to fix first.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Newsletter: https://newsletter.yasarahmad.com/Website: https://www.yasarahmad.comCoaching: https://www.ovdlab.com/forBlog: https://ovdlab.com/blogContact: Hello@yasarahmad.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━#CareerAdvice #Influence #Leadership #WinAtWork

Get my free RESUME template here: https://ovdlab.com/blog/my-resume-that-landed-me-my-vp-roleOver my entire career I rejected more than a million resumes. Almost every one failed for the same five reasons, and nobody ever told the person why.I ran hiring at companies like HelloFresh and Wipro, where we brought in thousands of people a month and sat on a database of 3 to 4 million resumes. Yours gets a 7 to 8 second look before someone decides yes or no. Most of the resumes I rejected belonged to people who could actually do the job. They were qualified. Some were brilliant. They just never showed it on the page, so they landed in the no pile and never found out why.This video walks through the five mistakes I saw most, and the exact fix for each: writing your duties instead of your results, burying your best line on page two where the 8 second scan never reaches it, sending one generic resume to every role so the screening software and the recruiter both pass, planting small cracks in your credibility that quietly kill senior candidates, and cluttering the page so a hiring manager has to hunt for the good bit. If you're great at your job but keep getting ignored, this one is for you.I built a free career diagnostic that shows you exactly where things are going wrong and where to focus to put them right. If you feel like an invisible expert at work, start there: head to https://www.ovdlab.com and click Assessment, and you'll have it within 5 minutes. Subscribe for the stuff nobody tells you about how work really works.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Newsletter: https://newsletter.yasarahmad.com/Website: https://www.yasarahmad.comCoaching: https://www.ovdlab.com/forBlog: https://ovdlab.com/blogSocials: https://ovdlab.com/bioBooks: https://ovdlab.com/shop/bundleContact: Hello@yasarahmad.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━#ResumeTips #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Hiring #WinAtWork