Take Control of Your Career – Details, episodes & analysis

Abha Bhaskar is the Chief Technology Officer at Experian Employer Services In this episode, Lauren and Abha discuss: • Abha humble career beginnings and the importance of someone believing in you • Challenges and Triumphs in Career Advancement • Gaining clarity on when it's time to move on to a new role or company • Embracing Remote Work Key Takeaways: • Embracing Unplanned Opportunities Abha's journey emphasizes the importance of being open to unexpected paths, such as her decision to study in the US and her transition from engineering, which significantly shaped her career. • Servant Leadership Approach: Her leadership style, focused on humility, learning, and serving the team, has been key in building effective teams and successful integrations within organizations. • Continuous Learning and Adaptability: The emphasis on continuous learning and staying adaptable in the face of rapid technological changes underpins her career success and ability to lead effectively. • Impact of Diversity in Experience: Abha's varied roles across different functions within the same organization equipped her with a broad perspective, underlining the value of diverse experiences in achieving effective leadership and career progression. "Every role taught me something about myself and taught me a skillset that I did not have." - Abha Bhaskar "Continuous learning has been my support system." - Abha Bhaksar "I walk in with humility with the fact that I have a lot to learn, and I'm here to help." - Abha Bhaskar Reach out to Abha at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abha-bhaskar/ Reach out to Lauren at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenherring/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHerringCareerExpert Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenherring IMPACT Group Website: www.impactgrouphr.com IMPACT Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-group/ Get the book, Take Control of Your Job Search here: Paperback Book: https://amzn.to/3tibaCz ebook: https://amzn.to/3dk4Cy5

Doris Meister is CEO of Wilmington Trust. In this episode Lauren and Katie discuss: - Career adaptation leveraging transferrable skills across industries - Making strategic career choices focusing on career goals and using personal values as a north star - Exploring diverse and unexpected career paths Key Takeaways: - Self-Discovery for Career Fulfillment: Understanding one's own strengths and passions is essential for navigating successful career changes. - Adapting to Industry Trends: Staying attuned to industry dynamics can uncover new opportunities and guide career trajectories. - Exploring Varied Career Paths: Experiencing diverse roles can offer a broader perspective and enhance professional growth. - Prioritizing Personal Values: Making career decisions that align with personal life and values is crucial for long-term contentment and achievement. “If you know yourself well, and you're able to assess the risk of making a big change, it's incredibly fulfilling and you really stretch your talents and your scope in ways that just following a straight line doesn't do.” - Doris Meister "Making career decisions that align with individual values and life circumstances is key to long-term success and happiness." - Doris Meister Reach out to Doris at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doris-meister/ Reach out to Lauren at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenherring/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHerringCareerExpert Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenherring IMPACT Group Website: www.impactgrouphr.com IMPACT Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-group/ Get the book, Take Control of Your Job Search here: Paperback Book: https://amzn.to/3tibaCz ebook: https://amzn.to/3dk4Cy5

Michele Molitor is the Founder and CEO of Nectar Consulting Inc.

 

In this episode Lauren and Michele discuss:

• How to leverage coaching to overcome blocks and achieve clarity in your professional life
• Strategies to change negative thoughts and improve your mindset 
• Imposter syndrome and its impact on women’s confidence, as well as exercises that can be used to combat self-doubt when dealing with related symptoms
• Becoming unshakeable by identifying your core self-doubt archetype to shrink fear and boost confidence
• Managing corporate PTSD

 

Key takeaways:

• In times of challenge, women are more likely than men to question their worthiness and value
• 70% of all adults will deal with some form of imposter syndrome in their career, with 25%-30% of high achievers managing it even more regularly
• It’s important to have conversations with yourself to determine your bigger why and ensure your job goals align with your values, passion, and purpose 
• A lot of personal and professional fears are based on fear or trauma that has been implanted in the subconscious due to past experiences
• You can retrain your brain at both a conscious and subconscious level to identify root cause; neutralize emotional triggers and traumas; and change mindset to focus on your unique skills, values, and abilities
• To reduce negative thoughts and build new neural pathways, you should flip negative statements or self-talk into the exact positive opposite and continuously repeat to yourself 

 

“We each, all of us, have unique abilities, gifts, and talents that we bring to the table based on our perspectives.” - Michele Molitor

“When you really start to embody all that you have accomplished and who you are…it allows you to stand up a little taller and to really speak your truth, to share your expertise more fully, more easily from a place of ease, grace, and flow.” - Michele Molitor

 

 

Reach out to Michele at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelemolitor/

Website: https://michelemolitor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicheleMolitorCoach

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rapidrewire/?hl=en

 

Reach out to Lauren at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenherring/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHerringCareerExpert 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenherring 

IMPACT Group Website: www.impactgrouphr.com 

Earn Your Worth Website: www.earnyourworthcareers.com 

IMPACT Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-group/ 

Earn Your Worth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earn-your-worth-careers/ 

Get the book, Take Control of Your Job Search here:

Paperback Book: https://amzn.to/3tibaCz 

ebook: https://amzn.to/3dk4Cy5

Banks Staples-Pecht is an ICF-Certified Coach

In this episode Lauren and Banks discuss:

• Seizing clarity in your goals and career aspirations
• Defining what success means to you
• Emotion-based decisions and the framework of should versus want
• The power of story and importance of bringing different points of view together
• Humor in leadership and how to use if effectively
• Leveraging emotional intelligence in servant leadership
• Being intentional and connected in decision making

Key takeaways:

• It’s important to create a space and take the first steps to determine what you want and how you want to feel professionally
• The power of story is crucial for leaders as it helps open a safe space for team members that allows for listening (rather than telling) and exploration of different perspectives
• Humor builds trust, breaks people out of fixed thinking, and helps build on something challenging in a way that feels safer
• In advancing or leveling up, top performers can maximize their performance through a high degree of emotional intelligence and the ability to find clarity

“Stay in the now with an eye to the next.” - Banks Staples-Pecht

“When we get to a certain point, we have to start focusing more on the how of leadership than the what of the job.” - Banks Staples-Pecht

“The beauty of humor is that it can be one of our great tools to connect around hard things by finding the things that are funny.” - Banks Staples-Pecht

 

 

Reach out to Banks at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/banks-pecht/

 

Reach out to Lauren at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenherring/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHerringCareerExpert 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenherring 

IMPACT Group Website: www.impactgrouphr.com 

Earn Your Worth Website: www.earnyourworthcareers.com 

IMPACT Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-group/ 

Earn Your Worth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earn-your-worth-careers/ 

Get the book, Take Control of Your Job Search here:

Paperback Book: https://amzn.to/3tibaCz 

ebook: https://amzn.to/3dk4Cy5

Nina Leigh Krueger is the CEO and President at Nestlé Purina North America

In this episode Lauren and Nina Leigh discuss:

• The importance of having a sponsor and the difference between sponsors and mentors
• Continuing to invest in your career
• Identifying and acting upon inflection points to grow your career
• Empathy in leadership

Key takeaways:

• It’s important to build genuine relationships with people – you don’t always know who is looking out for you and your career interests, and the people who help you along the way might surprise you.
• You must ask for feedback from mentors and sponsors, while taking the time to process and accept it 
• Mentors and sponsors are willing to see things in you that you may not be able to see yourself and find opportunities for development and growth that you may not know exist
• If you are going to ask someone to invest in you, be prepared; ask good questions; and listen
• Leadership requires tough decisions and taking on risk. 
• Be present and gain skills in the job that you have today while understanding that there are many paths to success

 

“Your career, like your life, is a journey not a destination.” - Nina Leigh Krueger

“Finding people who are willing to invest their time and energy and experience to help you is truly a gift and not something that should be taken lightly.” - Nina Leigh Krueger

“Tough love leads to growth if you accept it as an opportunity and a gift.” - Nina Leigh Krueger

 

Reach out to Nina Leigh at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-leigh-krueger-578b8a5/

 

Reach out to Lauren at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenherring/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHerringCareerExpert 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenherring 

IMPACT Group Website: www.impactgrouphr.com 

Earn Your Worth Website: www.earnyourworthcareers.com 

IMPACT Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-group/ 

Earn Your Worth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earn-your-worth-careers/ 

Get the book, Take Control of Your Job Search here:

Paperback Book: https://amzn.to/3tibaCz 

ebook: https://amzn.to/3dk4Cy5

Jinny Uppal is a Business and Technology Leader 

And author of the award winning book, In/Action: Rethinking the Path to Results

 

In this episode Lauren and Jinny discuss:

What drives major progress

Leveraging reflective thinking and strategic inaction (inaction as a choice)

The mental health crisis and the importance of giving your mind a break

Default mode network (DMN) and supporting neuroscience research

Importance of meditation and mind wandering

Embracing delegation and how to develop this skill

 

Key takeaways:

Taking a pause or strategic inaction can be powerfully productive.

It is important to take time before meetings to calm nerves and reduce anxiety.

Infusing breaks throughout the day can improve mental wellbeing; reduce fatigue and burnout; and improve productivity.

Letting your mind wander to activate the DMN helps your brain “connect the dots” of information and come up with creative ideas. 

Delegation is needed to move up the corporate ladder – it’s important to trust others and the process.

 

“As much as we like giving credit to action that gives us results, we underestimate the power of thoughtful pauses that give birth to new ideas” – Jinny Uppal

“We underestimate the power of our mind and our brain to come up with creative solutions to the problems we are facing.” – Jinny Uppal

“Delegation is the willingness to let go.” – Jinny Uppal

 

 

Reach out to Jinny at:

Website: https://www.jinnyuppal.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jinnyuppal/

Get the book, In/Action: Rethinking the Path to Results here: 

Paperback and Kindle: https://amzn.to/3L6vJuc 

 

Reach out to Lauren at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenherring/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHerringCareerExpert 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenherring 

IMPACT Group Website: www.impactgrouphr.com 

Earn Your Worth Website: www.earnyourworthcareers.com 

IMPACT Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-group/ 

Earn Your Worth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earn-your-worth-careers/ 

Get the book, Take Control of Your Job Search here:

Paperback Book: https://amzn.to/3tibaCz 

ebook: https://amzn.to/3dk4Cy5 

Stephanie Chung is the Chief Growth Officer of Wheels up. She’s also the first black President of a major aviation company. 

In this episode Lauren and Stephanie discuss:

• How to stand out as a woman in a male dominated industry. 
• Being a values-centered leader
• Moving from success to significance. 

Key takeaways:

• Lean in to being “the only.”
• Get clarity about who you are – Brand yourself.
• People will trust you as a leader when they know you have their back. 
• Confidence is key. Sometimes you build confidence by digging in, learning and doing. 
• Learn how to say No.

“I’m fun, I’m fair and I’m tough. I demand excellence.” – Stephanie Chung 

“You have to have confidence in your capability.” – Stephanie Chung

Claudia Miller is a workplace expert and career coach. She is also the host of the podcast Road Map to the Executive Suite. 

 

In this episode Lauren and Claudia discuss:

• How to negotiate your salary increase.
• How to know if you’re in a position to negotiate your salary.
• What are the biggest obtacles for people negotiating a salary increase.
• How do you know how much to ask for?
• What other benefits you can negotiate besides money.
• How to build confidence to be able to take some of these steps. 

Key takeaways:

• Some people don’t even know they can negotiate their salary. 
• If you are employed, if you are interviewing, if you are applying for jobs, you are in a position to negotiate your salary. It’s not easy, it does take preparation and you need to know how to do it.
• Even if you are offered an amazing salary compensation package there are other benefits you can negotiate.
• Sometimes if you don’t negotiate you are raising red flags with a potential employer. 

“Most people don’t negotiate, and they are leaving money on the table. Most hiring managers expect you to negotiate, for that reason they will never give you the top range.” - Claudia Miller 

“It all start with your mindset.” - Claudia Miller

Betsy Cohen is Executive Director of the St. Louis Mosaic Project and Author of Welcome to the USA, You're Hired: A Guide for Foreign Born People Seeking Jobs.  

 

In this episode Lauren and Betsy discuss:

⦁ Helping foreign-born people with the job search, job search progression, and strategies to succeed and advance in an American corporation  

⦁ Managing emotions that come with starting a job search as a foreign-born individual

⦁ Three biggest challenges that foreign-born job seekers face

⦁ The importance of having a support network

⦁ The impact that refugees have on growing regions

 

Key takeaways:

⦁ It’s important for foreign-born people to have friends that are outside of their ethnic group to build authentic relationships and a network of people that know other people – this helps to feel more grounded in U.S. culture and find the hidden job market when looking for a job.

⦁ Foreign-born people should volunteer to serve others in the community – this will assist in overcoming loneliness while building bonds with others.

⦁ If a foreign-born person comes with a certain skill, they should look to join that professional association or network to maintain those skills and network.

⦁ Work towards overcoming challenges of self-presentation on a resume, understanding the interview process, and building a network.

⦁ To advance, individuals should take advantage of employee resource groups within companies; not hide their success; and find mentors/sponsors.

 

“It’s important as a county that we show that from both a humanitarian and an economic and a cultural basis, that we can do this.” - Betsy Cohen

 

Reach out to Betsy at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyhcohen/

Get the book, Welcome to the U.S.A.-You're Hired!: A Guide for Foreign-Born People Seeking Jobs here:  

Paperback and Kindle: https://amzn.to/3IA34NZ

 

Reach out to Lauren at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenherring/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHerringCareerExpert  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenherring  

IMPACT Group Website: www.impactgrouphr.com  

Earn Your Worth Website: www.earnyourworthcareers.com  

IMPACT Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-group/  

Earn Your Worth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earn-your-worth-careers/  

Get the book, Take Control of Your Job Search here:

Paperback Book: https://amzn.to/3tibaCz  

ebook: https://amzn.to/3dk4Cy5

Carrie Kerpen is Co-founder and CEO of Likeable Media; host of All the Social Ladies podcast; and author of Work It: Secrets for Success from the Boldest Women in Business.

 

In this episode Lauren and Carrie discuss:

How to stand out with social media

Women and money

Dealing with financial anxiety

Benefits of building a Fab Personal Advisory Board (PAB)

Practicing boundaries and saying “no” more often to gain power

Failure and challenges – how you can fail fantastically

The importance of demonstrating vulnerability to demonstrate confidence and leadership while leveling up

 

 

Key takeaways:

Recognize that social media is a highlight reel, you need to find your own highlight reel that is truly and authentically you. 

No presence on social media is a presence and comes across that you don’t want to be found – if individuals are looking for you, they will then look at someone else.

Women must train themselves to push past being risk averse by becoming educated, interacting with women in a safe space, and negotiating around compensation and salary while utilizing a “mental mute” to allow negotiators to come to you. 

An advisory board comprised of individuals that have experience in areas that you would like to improve upon will help you enhance your life and get your career to the next level.

It’s important to not just fail and learn from it, but to be willing to share this failure with others to help them feel okay with their own failures.

 

“When women work together, we are so much more powerful.” – Carrie Kerpen

 

“You have to be really really intentional about your desire to live the life that you want.”

– Carrie Kerpen

 

“Failure is essential to be able to grow and you do not build resilience without experiencing some form of failure.” – Carrie Kerpen

 

 

Reach out to Carrie at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekerpen/

Get the book, Work It: Secrets for Success from the Boldest Women in Business here:

Book: https://amzn.to/3xHuZpZ 

Listen to the podcast, All the Social Ladies here:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-the-social-ladies/id858239631

 

Reach out to Lauren at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenherring/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHerringCareerExpert 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenherring 

IMPACT Group Website: www.impactgrouphr.com 

Earn Your Worth Website: www.earnyourworthcareers.com 

IMPACT Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-group/ 

Earn Your Worth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earn-your-worth-careers/ 

Get the book, Take Control of Your Job Search here:

Paperback Book: https://amzn.to/3tibaCz 

ebook: https://amzn.to/3dk4Cy5