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18 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Successful But Unfulfilled? Why "Fine" Is Stalling Your Career
4 november 2026 · 38 min
Coach Junna Liao shares her journey from $500 in her pocket to financial planner of the year, and how to find what's missing in your career and life. Lees meer
Episode summary
Many high achievers feel "fine" but unfulfilled. In this episode of The Promotion Room, host Courtney O'Connell talks with transformational coach and MMDC Alchemy founder Junna Liao. Junna grew up in a humble family in China, moved to the U.S. with under $500, and became a three-time global financial planner of the year. She explains why she left finance to help people find fulfillment, how to tell what's missing from what's wrong, and why money and titles rarely deliver lasting satisfaction. Her advice for career change, midlife transitions and personal growth is practical.
In this episode, you'll learn
How to find what's missing in your career and life
Why feeling "fine" can quietly drain your passion
How childhood beliefs can keep you playing small
Why people-pleasing works for an individual contributor but stalls a move into leadership
Why imposter syndrome affects high-achieving leaders, including CEOs
How to define what "having it all" means to you
Timestamps
0:16 Growing up in China and a childhood story that taught her to "stay small"
4:18 Perfectionism, family expectations and the three "approved" careers
10:10 Arriving in the U.S. with under $500
13:53 From Ritz-Carlton assistant to creative director
15:21 The "professional people pleaser"
16:33 The question that changed everything: "What are you doing here?"
18:05 The "big F word": why "fine" isn't enough
22:45 What working with millionaires taught her about money and happiness
26:06 The hike that led to a realization: "You can have it all"
29:21 Practical exercise: identify what's missing
31:13 Leaving a career as a three-time financial planner of the year
34:00 MMDC Alchemy and the mission of "one miracle a day"
36:16 Book recommendations
About the guest
Junna Liao is a transformational coach and founder of MMDC Al…
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How to Turn Workplace Enemies Into Career Allies
27 oktober 2026 · 40 min
What if the person making your work life miserable could actually become one of your biggest career advocates? Lees meer
Navigating office politics, difficult coworkers, and unsupportive leaders is part of corporate life. But how you handle those relationships can make or break your career advancement.
In this episode of Inside the Promotion Room, former Fortune 500 SVP and Head of HR Courtney O'Connell sits down with Michelle Araya, a corporate leader with 25 years of experience in the male-dominated defense industry.
Michelle shares an unexpected strategy she's used to turn workplace adversaries into trusted mentors and career champions. And it's not about playing games, being fake, or winning people over at any cost.
It's about understanding people, building authentic relationships, and learning how to navigate workplace dynamics without compromising who you are.
But this conversation goes well beyond office politics.
Michelle opens up about the personal cost of chasing promotions, the pressure to prove herself as a woman in corporate leadership, and the moment she realized that professional achievement and personal fulfillment aren't the same thing.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to handle difficult coworkers and unsupportive leaders without damaging your career
A surprising strategy for turning workplace enemies into mentors and advocates
Why building relationships across ALL levels of an organization matters for career growth
How self-awareness and emotional intelligence strengthen executive presence
Why working harder and chasing the next promotion don't always lead to success
How to pursue career advancement without sacrificing your health, family, or happiness
Whether you're working toward your next promotion, navigating office politics, or questioning what success really looks like, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership and career growth.
Getting ahead isn't just about what you accomplish. It's about how you lead yourself, ho…
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Why Your Reputation Matters More Than Your Job Title with Chris Lynch
20 oktober 2026 · 44 min
Chris Lynch on corporate navigation, mentorship, and staying real Lees meer
Courtney reconnects with Chris Lynch about his career in corporate America, from Bank of America to Sony, PayPal, and US Bank. The conversation centers on what really drives success behind the scenes: relationships, authenticity, and learning how to navigate dotted-line management, setbacks, and change without losing yourself.Chris shares how his upbringing in Charlotte, Catholic school, early mentors, and later therapy shaped the way he leads and works. If you care about talent, leadership, or surviving corporate politics with your values intact, this one is packed with practical wisdom.
Timestamps
00:00 - Reunion and why Chris Lynch is such a memorable corporate partner
01:31 - What Chris did at Bank of America and why the work was fun
03:29 - Learning from many styles of leadership and management
04:24 - Career path after Bank of America: Sony, PayPal, and US Bank
06:04 - Growing up in Charlotte and the schools that shaped him
08:34 - First jobs, early influences, and why business started to make sense
08:57 - Childhood dreams, from paramedic to priesthood
11:29 - Why so many leaders are drawn to high-intensity careers
12:08 - Therapy, early memory work, and the role of mentors
14:07 - Childhood operating systems, boundaries, and career behavior
16:46 - How Chris learned to navigate dotted-line relationships
17:58 - Ranking sales managers and earning credibility fast
19:56 - Why performance consulting became a lasting tool
22:43 - Losing his mom, trauma, and learning to celebrate his own life
25:19 - A boss who set him up to fail and what Chris learned from it
29:47 - What the “villain” taught him about trust and resilience
33:30 - Embracing corporate instead of resenting it
34:28 - Being promised a director title and learning titles are not the point
36:55 - Breadcrumbs, values, and recognizing what work really energizes you
39:42 - How trauma can create a mask and what it c…
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Why Your Best Work Is Keeping You Stuck
8 oktober 2026 · 24 min
Why Your Best Work Is Keeping You Stuck and What To Do When You're At a Career PlateauCourtney O'Connell shares a solo episode on how high performers get stalled in corporate careers and what it actually takes to move into executive-level roles. She breaks down the difference between being a top performer and being seen as high potential, then gives a practical framework for spotting the blind spots that keep people stuck.Key topics Lees meer
In this episode, Courtney explains why hard work alone often stops working once you reach mid-career and why promotion decisions shift from output to perception, positioning, and leadership readiness.
She shares her own career story at Deutsche Bank and later as an HR director, including the moment she realized she was being seen as a workhorse rather than a future leader.
Courtney draws a sharp distinction between high performance and high potential, using the example of a manager’s workhorse versus the person who is already operating at the next level.
She identifies three blind spots that stall ambitious professionals:
She explains how behaviors that once got rewarded, like being the first to respond, overexplaining, or knowing every detail, can become liabilities at more senior levels.
Courtney outlines three recalibrations needed for advancement:
She offers a simple executive communication framework: headline, impact, recommendation.
Courtney emphasizes that delegation is development, not dumping work, and that strategic work has to be deliberately made room for in the calendar.
She argues that the biggest blocker is not ignorance but behavior patterns that have been rewarded for years and are hard to see from inside your own mindset.
Timestamps
00:00 - Why Courtney is talking about career plateaus now
01:26 - Hitting the wall after years of quick growth
01:56 - Watching promotion decisions from inside HR
02:52 - What the people getting promoted were doing differently
04:20 - The three blind spots that stall high perform… -
What Executive Presence Really Means (and How to Play the Corporate Game) with Shari Chernack
29 september 2026 · 47 min
What does executive presence actually mean and how do you navigate the corporate game without becoming someone you're not? Lees meer
In this episode of Inside the Promotion Room, Courtney O’Connell sits down with former Chief People Officer and transformation leader Shari Chernack to talk about the unwritten rules of career growth. They unpack executive presence, mentorship, imposter syndrome, tough feedback, corporate politics, career pivots, and why ambitious leaders need to learn how to read the room while staying true to who they are.
Shari also shares a powerful reminder for anyone trying to move up: you own your career. Growth requires knowing when to stretch, when to adapt, and when discomfort is actually telling you to keep going.
Timestamps
00:00 - Welcome and why Shari’s consulting background matters
01:03 - Growing up in New York and almost becoming a lawyer
02:45 - Early marketing roles and realizing the work was not the right fit
03:35 - First consulting role in e-learning and change communications
05:31 - The dot-com bust and the decision to go to business school
06:52 - Learning change management from the inside out
08:06 - Why Dell’s transformation pulled her back into in-house leadership
09:55 - Returning to consulting, then leading a turnaround internally
11:39 - The hardest career pivot and losing the comfort of infrastructure
14:05 - Becoming a chief people officer and learning the role in practice
16:31 - The gap between theory and lived leadership experience
17:26 - “You always know more than you think, and less than you think”
19:34 - Mentors, sponsors, and the value of tough love
21:58 - What actually drove her career success
24:23 - Hiring people who want to outgrow the seat
27:23 - Knowing when you need complementary strengths on your team
30:10 - Moving into adjacencies and growing through stretch roles
32:49 - How to choose the right company and culture for your season of life
34:37 - Large organizations versus smaller, scrap…
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What Gets You Promoted? Darrell Fincher-Crusan on the Truth About People-Pleasing and Career Pivots
22 september 2026 · 47 min
Courtney reconnects with a former Bank of America colleague for a conversation that goes further behind the promotion room door than most. Darrell spent nine years as a bank collector before making the pivot into HR, eventually rising to head of HR roles across financial services and biopharma, and he's candid about what it actually took to get there: the degrees earned while working full time with two small kids at home, the jobs he didn't get despite being "ready," and the toll of being what he calls a recovering people pleaser. "You can lie to your brain, you can lie to your heart, but you can never lie to your body," he tells Courtney, and the two of them dig into what happens when ambition outruns self-awareness. Lees meer
This episode earns its place in the promotion room because of what Darrell has seen from the inside of actual talent discussions. He names the exact behaviors that quietly take people off the list for bigger roles, the difference between being productive and being strategic, and why "how you do things is more important sometimes than what you do." They also get into sponsorship as a two-way exchange, why executive presence is really about the energy you're putting off without realizing it, and the one question that separates a good career pivot from a bad one: are you running away from something, or running toward it?
Whether you're managing a team for the first time or eyeing the next seat up, this one leaves you with a real audit to run on yourself, not just a feel-good takeaway.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome back and reconnecting after years apart
00:24 - How Courtney and Darrell first crossed paths at Bank of America
02:58 - The trajectory Darrell thought he was on, and the one he found instead
03:36 - The man behind the resume: growing up in South Bend, Indiana
04:40 - Wanting to wear a suit, and finding his own path there
05:14 - Leaving college, coming home, and landing in collections
05:43 - Nine years as a collector, then the pivot at thirt… -
Mandy Wong on being coachable, self-mastery, and rising through corporate leadership
15 september 2026 · 47 min
Mandy Wong on being coachable, self-mastery, and rising through corporate leadership Lees meer
Courtney speaks with Mandy Wong, a Canada Post leader with 15 years in the same organization, about career pivots, taking risks early on, and what actually drives promotion: coachability, trust, and self-awareness. The conversation is especially useful for ambitious professionals trying to balance confidence without tipping into arrogance.We discuss how Mandy moved from a child, youth, and family relations degree into marketing and product roles, why she believed in taking the risk on a one-year term role, and how she reframed fear as a signal to proceed with caution rather than stop. Mandy also shares what changed when she moved from manager to director, and why executive presence is really just presence plus self-mastery. And...why she stopped looking at being an introvert as a professional handicap and started recognizing her style as the superpower that it is.
Timestamps
00:00 - Welcome to the promotion room and why Mandy’s background matters
02:17 - Wanting to make an impact, not just choosing a childhood dream
03:11 - University, co-op, and realizing teaching was not the right path
06:04 - Supportive family, temp work, and the first step into marketing
07:41 - Landing at Canada Post and taking a role without list experience
09:35 - Why a one-year term role still felt worth the risk
11:13 - Advice to younger professionals: twenties are for experimenting
13:56 - Fear as a yield sign, not a stop sign
16:12 - The manager to director transition and imposter syndrome
19:04 - Why coachability mattered more than list experience
20:51 - Confidence without needing to be right
23:29 - Self-mastery as the better measure than performative competence
26:00 - EQ, self-awareness, and reading the room at higher levels
30:01 - The trust equation: credibility, reliability, intimacy, self-orientation
32:08 - Building intimacy without being naturally extroverted
35:56 - The beli…
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Ben Brooks on getting hired, standing out, and taking the initiative to create the career you want
8 september 2026 · 38 min
My conversation with Ben Brooks focuses on how to create opportunity, prove hunger, and become the person a boss would fight to keep. In this episode, Ben shares specific lessons from merit-based environments, career pivots, and the difference between being technically good and being promotable. He also explains why clarity, attitude, and visible initiative matter more than polished resumes. Lees meer
Timestamps
00:19 - Growing up in Austin and northern Colorado
02:26 - First jobs and the pull of corporate life
03:49 - Why Enterprise was a powerful first internship
04:19 - Meritocracy, metrics, and branch rankings
06:24 - Sales training through rental-car discovery
07:57 - Handling customer frustration and operational failures
09:49 - Why first jobs shape executive instincts
10:36 - Losing a dream job and regrouping after graduation
11:31 - How a professor and alum helped him land at Lockheed
12:27 - Security clearance, classified work, and a rough start
13:55 - Learning contracts, vendor management, and Lean Six Sigma
16:32 - Why the government program eventually collapsed
18:07 - Mentorship, variety, and deciding to leave Lockheed
20:00 - Choosing consulting over a longer corporate path
21:42 - Finding Mercer through industry curiosity and a bold target
23:33 - Writing a direct pitch to a group President
24:58 - The FedEx package and an unexpected response
26:14 - Why specificity and value matter in networking
27:09 - Hustle, anxiety, and being committed without being attached
28:52 - “You’re going to get what you work for”
30:27 - Evidence of hunger versus vague ambition
32:28 - Rejection, experimentation, and building enough surface area for luck
35:29 - Threshold skills versus differentiating behaviors
37:26 - Surviving the financial crisis and pitching internal change
38:26 - Co-founding an LGBT employee resource group
39:22 - A one-slide pitch that led to an executive response in minutes
40:48 - Landing an HR rotation and later becoming an …
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Michelle Martin on Self-Belief, Office Politics, and the Real Path to Promotion
1 september 2026 · 56 min
Michelle Martin's career didn't start in a boardroom. It started as a temp garbage collector at a waste management company in Hamilton, Ontario, a job she took because she needed the money, not because she had a plan. Decades later, she was a Director of Fleet Maintenance at a Fortune 500 environmental services company, one of the few women to reach that level in a male-dominated industry. Lees meer
In this episode, Courtney sits down with Michelle to trace that entire arc: coming back from maternity leave and asking her manager, point blank, what she needed to do to get promoted; hitting a wall with a senior leader who made it clear he wasn't rooting for her; and the moment in an interview she knew she wouldn't win where she realized she was no longer asking for anyone else's validation.
Michelle and Courtney get specific about what it actually takes to move up once the work itself stops being the differentiator, including how to talk to senior leaders in the language they respond to, why the questions "who do you want to be" and "how is this place better because of your leadership" belong on a recurring calendar reminder, and why letting go of doing the work yourself is often the hardest transition in a leader's career. They also dig into a feedback moment that caught Michelle off guard: a new supervisor telling her that her actions made it seem like she thought her employees weren't smart, and what it looked like to sit with that instead of defending herself.
If you've ever wondered what's actually said behind closed doors about who gets promoted, or you're dealing with someone at work who has already decided you're not getting the job, this conversation is for you.
Timestamps
- 00:15 - Welcoming Michelle Martin
- 00:38 - Growing up in Hamilton, Ontario, and wanting to be an ER doctor or a cop
- 02:03 - Dropping out of high school and starting out as a temp garbage collector
- 05:38 - Coming back from maternity leave and asking directly for a path to promotion
- …
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Richard A. Hinton on Career Growth, Intuition, and Leading With Authenticity
25 augustus 2026 · 42 min
Richard A. Hinton on career growth, intuition, and leading with authenticity Lees meer
Courtney sits down with Richard A. Hinton for a candid conversation about his path from early jobs in customer service to a long corporate HR career. They discuss the role of intuition, the reality of being “the only one” in the room, and how leadership, belonging, and self-awareness shape promotion and growth.
Key topics
Richard reflects on how strong leadership, authentic managers, and a CEO who truly practiced what he preached influenced the kind of leader he wants to be.
Richard and Courtney compare notes on identifying good and bad managers, including why coaching, EQ, and multiple data points matter when evaluating a leader in an interview process.
He opens up about feeling “other” as a Black, Jamaican, Indian, gay man in corporate spaces, the pressure to mask, and the emotional cost of trying to belong by overperforming and people pleasing.
Richard discusses the identity reckoning that came after George Floyd’s death, how it forced him to confront self-hatred and burnout, and how he began rebuilding through self-awareness and self-compassion.
He shares how intuition shows up in his body, why coaching helped him trust it, and how that inner voice ultimately led him to launch his own business.
Timestamps
02:21 - What Burger King taught him about customer service
05:32 - A Gillette internship that confirmed a future in HR
06:59 - Breaking into recruiting after college
12:48 - Why he almost ruled out construction too soon
13:31 - Trusting his gut and recognizing the right culture
15:54 - Why authentic leadership changed his career
18:31 - Learning from leaders with technical strength but low EQ
20:31 - How to evaluate managers before accepting a job
24:07 - How intuition feels in the body
26:53 - Coaching, journaling, and quieting the noise
28:56 - When the mind protects you too much
30:15 - Naming the inner critic and managing self-sabotage
33:46 - The lifelong lea…
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Personal Branding at Work: Control Perception & Build Authentic Leadership With Lisa Williams
18 augustus 2026 · 35 min
Personal Branding at Work: Control Perception & Build Authentic Leadership with Lisa Williams Lees meer
Key topics:
Lisa's diverse career trajectory, from collections at a bank to internal coaching leadership
The importance of self-awareness, values, and authenticity in career development
Strategies for effective interview preparation and self-promotion
How to develop and control your personal brand within professional settings
The role of mentors, sponsors, and relationship-building in career success
Managing perceptions and modulating behavior for authentic leadership
Lessons learned about leadership humility, listening, and decision-making
The significance of presence, vulnerability, and letting go of outcomes
Recommendations for fostering curiosity through informational interviews
Insights on building influence and sponsorship behind closed doors
Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and Lisa's background in HR and consulting
02:00 - Lisa's first jobs and early career insights
04:42 - The significance of self-awareness and career trial-and-error
06:39 - Navigating job transitions and learning from adversity
08:24 - Mastering interview prep with depth and impact
10:21 - Moving from finance to HR and consulting insights
12:50 - Morphing without losing authenticity
14:56 - The importance of values and authentic leadership
16:37 - Intentional mentorship and relationship strategies
18:19 - Defining success through choices and self-awareness
19:52 - Gaining clarity on career paths and future planning
20:22 - Building curiosity through networking and informational interviews
22:32 - Preparing for effective informational interviews
24:09 - Clarity and goal-setting in short conversations
27:26 - Managing personal brand and perception in leadership
29:11 - The importance of creative thinking and innovation in roles
32:48 - Authenticity and modulation of presence in different settings
35:35 - Behind-the-scenes truths about promotion and sponsorship
36:53 - Build…
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Grit, Influence, and Boundaries: How to Get Promoted Faster With Denise Moss
11 augustus 2026 · 38 min
Denise Moss climbed from bank teller to VP of HR, but not before spending years stuck at the director level, watching less-qualified peers get promoted around her. In this episode, Courtney O'Connell sits down with Denise Moss (aka "Your HR Homegirl") to unpack exactly what changed. Lees meer
Denise shares the real story behind her rise through corporate HR: starting as a temp receptionist, getting promoted to HR administrator in six months, and later volunteering for the systems implementation project no one else wanted (one that finally put her name in front of the C-suite).
She and Courtney break down why grit is a skill you can build (not just a trait you're born with), why "no" is a complete sentence, and why self-promotion isn't bragging, it's how decision-makers actually find out you're ready for more.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why being great at your job is not the same as being visible for promotion
How to build the confrontation muscle if pushback doesn't come naturally to you
The exact project-volunteering strategy that got Denise noticed by her company's COO
How to set boundaries and protect your time without damaging trust
What executive presence actually looks like in the room (hint: it's not arrogance)
If you've ever felt like you're doing the best work of your career and still getting passed over, this conversation is for you.
About the Guest:
Denise Moss ("Your HR Homegirl") is a former VP of Human Resources with a career built on grit, reinvention, and knowing when to raise her hand.About the Host:
Courtney O'Connell spent 23 years in corporate HR, rising from administrative assistant to SVP sitting in the room where promotion decisions were actually made. She now coaches high-performing leaders on how to get seen, get sponsored, and get promoted.Links:
The 5am Club Here
The 48 Laws of Power Here
Grit Here
Connect with Denise Here
🔔 Subscribe for new episodes of Inside the Promotion Room every week
👉 Learn more at thepromoted.comKe…
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The Leadership Skills AI Can Never Replace With Former CIO Michael Kubit
4 augustus 2026 · 34 min
What if the biggest thing holding you back from your next promotion isn't your technical skills… but how people experience you as a leader? Lees meer
Today's guest is Michael Kubit, former Chief Information Officer and executive leader with decades of experience building teams, leading transformation, and making high-stakes leadership decisions.
In this conversation, we unpack why emotional intelligence is becoming more valuable (not less!) in the age of AI, how to make the difficult transition from individual contributor to leader, and what executives are really looking for when they decide who's ready for the next level.
Main Topics:
Michael’s non-traditional career path and key learnings from early roles
The role of emotional intelligence and vulnerability in effective leadership
Building organizational culture through trust, conflict, and clear communication
Recognizing when it’s time to pivot professionally based on values and environment
The impact of technology evolution and skills to focus on in the age of AI
Strategies for developing executive presence and impactful communication
The significance of self-awareness and team fit in leadership success
Timestamps: 00:00 - Introducing Michael Cubit and his background
02:03 - Lessons learned from early roles in hotel maintenance and transferable skills
03:45 - How DIY problem-solving influences professional problem-solving
05:06 - From music tech to IT: The evolution of technological involvement
06:13 - The early days of university-based dial-up modems and internet progress
08:21 - Skills to prioritize in the age of AI and technological disruption
10:12 - The importance of soft skills and emotional intelligence in leadership
11:36 - Perception management and deliberate career development
12:45 - Recognizing organizational misalignment and knowing when to move on
14:10 - Navigating virtual communication glitches and resilience during remote recordings
20:23 - The significance of brand and reputation in…
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Unlocking Authenticity and Resilience in Your Career with Colleen Lauria
29 juli 2026 · 40 min
In this episode, Colleen Lauria shares her inspiring journey of embracing her authentic self in the workplace, navigating mental health challenges, and building a fulfilling career in HR and coaching. Discover how core skills like emotional intelligence, curiosity, and thriving amid ambiguity can elevate your professional life, no matter your industry. Lees meer
Key Topics - We discuss:
The importance of mental health awareness and integrating personal challenges into professional growth
Her unconventional career arc from real estate to HR consultancy to corporate transformation
The role of networking and relationship-building in pivoting careers
How to recognize if you're in the right organizational environment for success
The enduring relevance of emotional intelligence, curiosity, and adaptability in a changing business landscape
Practical steps to develop coachability, embrace feedback, and own mistakes confidently
The impact of authentic leadership and how to balance self-expression with organizational culture
The significance of understanding your core values—like freedom—and how they shape career choices
Managing workplace politics while staying true to yourself
Using AI as a cognitive tool without losing creative and critical thinking skills
Book recommendation: The Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Mate—exploring inherited trauma and self-development
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Colleen Lauria’s journey and insights
02:05 - The thread of passion connecting music, theater, and leadership
06:01 - Navigating career transitions and the power of networking
10:39 - Embracing mental health struggles as superpowers in professional growth
16:36 - Overcoming imposter syndrome and trusting organizational support
22:27 - How seniority fosters authentic leadership and self-confidence
28:46 - Recognizing organizational culture fit and the importance of values
36:25 - Practical skills for thriving amid change and ambiguity
43:34 - Understanding executive pre…
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From Hollywood Extra to HR Leader: The Power of Storytelling With Patrick Sutton
29 juli 2026 · 49 min
Patrick Sutton shares his inspiring journey from Hollywood extra to HR executive emphasizing authenticity, storytelling, and strategic influence in career growth. Lees meer
In this episode:
Patrick shares his unexpected start
The crucial skills acting and storytelling develop for effective communication and executive presence
Transition from Hollywood to corporate, highlighting the transferability of soft skills
How embracing career pivots and external influences can guide strategic growth
The importance of building your personal brand, visibility, and advocacy through self-promotion
Practical tips on "reading the room" and influencing via storytelling and emotional intelligence
The significance of legacy-minded leadership over trend-driven pursuits
Insights into trust, integrity, and owning your story to accelerate promotions
Timestamps:
00:16 - Welcome and Patrick Sutton’s Hollywood debut experience
01:30 - How a movie role led to corporate skills development
02:53 - Acting skills enhancing executive presence and communication
04:20 - Teenage role in A Time to Kill and its impact on professionalism
05:07 - Transition from Hollywood to corporate HR and learning to pivot
06:45 - The power of transferable skills from acting to leadership
08:40 - Childhood dreams of becoming a writer and storytelling as a career foundation
09:58 - Influences from college and early career explorations
11:10 - Starting in media and realizing the importance of connection
13:47 - Advice for career growth and the importance of being intentional
14:23 - How 2008 recession shaped empathy and leadership in HR
16:09 - The moment that defined Patrick’s desire to make a difference in HR
17:39 - Finding joy in the work and creating a legacy in leadership
19:39 - Navigating work fulfillment in a challenging economy
20:01 - The importance of owning your story and self-advocacy
21:38 - Practice makes perfect: elevator pitches and storytelling tips
22:06 - Building community and rel…
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Career Advice from a CHRO: Kacy Wickenhauser on Resilience & Trust-Building
29 juli 2026 · 37 min
In this episode, Kacy Wickenhauser shares her inspiring journey from aspiring ER physician to CHRO in the energy industry, highlighting the importance of resilience, authenticity, and strategic thinking in career development. Lees meer
Key Topics:
The value of starting in unglamorous roles to build foundational skills in HR and corporate settings
The significance of partner choice and support systems in shaping career paths and dreams
Lessons learned from managing employee relations, layoffs, and industry stability during economic downturns
The importance of curiosity, trust-building, and intentional branding in leadership development
Understanding executive presence and the impact of distractions in today’s fast-paced workplace
Embracing vulnerability, authenticity, and the concept of ‘bringing your whole self’ to work
Strategies for navigating mistakes and building credibility through trust and consistency
The ongoing balance of work, personal values, and life’s unpredictability
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction and insights into Casey’s career pivot
02:05 - Reflecting on the regret of not pursuing a childhood dream in medicine
05:55 - How psychology and an MBA shaped Casey’s HR approach
08:12 - Building foundational HR experience in staffing and manufacturing settings
10:24 - Why the energy industry offers meaningful, sustainable work
13:50 - Overcoming fear and embracing mistakes as growth opportunities
15:50 - Trust as a 'trust jar' analogy for managing mistakes and credibility
17:40 - The challenge of balancing emotional baggage with leadership responsibilities
19:12 - Defining what it means to "have it all" and the importance of balance
21:22 - Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers and the importance of curiosity in talent development
24:53 - The significance of executive presence and reading the room
25:08 - The real meaning of ‘bring your whole self to work’ and setting boundaries
28:13 - The impact of likability and building genuine relationships at work…
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From Art to Tech Leadership: A Journey of Courage, Growth, and Authenticity With Lauren Newton
29 juli 2026 · 54 min
In this inspiring conversation, Lauren Newton shares her unconventional career path from art school to senior leadership in HR and recruiting. Her story highlights the importance of vulnerability, strategic risk-taking, and fostering authentic relationships in professional growth. Lees meer
The leap of faith: transitioning from creative arts to staffing without prior connections
Lessons learned from working at Facebook and Medium during hyper-growth and pandemic challenges
Building psychological safety and vulnerability as leadership strengths
Navigating career pivots: from individual contributor to team builder and head of functions
The significance of seeking mentorship, articulating ambitions, and making strategic plans
Work-life boundaries and balancing motherhood with high-stakes roles
In this episode:
Lauren discusses how her early passion for art influenced her creative approach to recruiting
The moment she decided to leave a stable job for high-risk opportunities during pregnancy
How vulnerability and transparency built her leadership reputation
The role of internal relationships and political awareness in career advancement
Practical advice for managing boundaries as a working parent in tech
Timestamps:
00:00 - Lauren Newton’s childhood dreams and career evolution
02:03 - Transition from art school to creative recruiting success
03:22 - How a Monster.com resume led to her first recruiting role
04:09 - The importance of early career mentorship and networking
06:38 - From staffing agency to in-house recruiting at startups
08:32 - Experiences and challenges at Facebook during rapid growth
10:46 - The moment Lauren realized the impact of her work at Medium
12:35 - Overcoming risk aversion and taking bold career leaps while pregnant
15:22 - Building confidence through transparent leadership and advocacy
17:20 - Navigating pregnancy and inclusion in corporate culture
18:38 - Transitioning from Facebook to Medium as a transformational move
20:10 - …
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The Trailer
23 juli 2026 · 2 min
I spent 23 years inside Fortune 500 companies, the last decade as SVP and Head of HR sitting in the rooms where promotion decisions actually get made. Lees meer
I've watched talented people get passed over for reasons no one ever explained to them, and I've watched others rise because they understood something the rest of the room didn't.
I'm Courtney O'Connell, and this is Inside the Promotion Room.
This trailer is your first look at the show: why I'm doing this, who it's for, and what you can expect every week. If you're a manager, director, or executive who feels like you're doing great work that nobody notices, this show was built for you.
Each week, I sit down with senior leaders and executives for an honest conversation about how their careers actually happened, not the polished version. We talk about the moments that changed everything, the mentors and sponsors who opened doors, the mistakes that almost ended things, and the unwritten rules of executive presence, visibility, and workplace politics that most people only learn the hard way.
Inside the Promotion Room launches soon. Subscribe now so you're ready when they drop.
Welcome to the Promoted Room
🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on career advancement, executive presence, and leadership
📩 Guest inquiries: support@thepromoted.com
_🌐_http://thepromoted.com#CareerAdvancement #Leadership #ExecutivePresence #PromotionTips #CorporateLeadership
Music licensed through Soundstripe.
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