Episodi

  • Public relations can be a powerful tool to help you elevate your brand, thought leadership, and credibility. In fact, it has a key similarity to personal branding. They both involve engaging and tailoring your message so that it best resonates with the audience/public. With personal branding, this is often done through avenues of conferences and social media posts, while PR includes press releases and articles. PR can be a guiding lens to look through for developing your personal brand, helping you know exactly what to say and what not to say.

    Who better to light the way than PR veteran and CEO of Greenrose Communications, Abbie Sheridan. She lives to connect people. Pairing her passion for connections with her love of storytelling, Abbie has been working in public relations for nearly 15 years. She initially found and pursued her dream job through a college internship where she pitched tech gadgets and colored toilet paper at New York Fashion Week (which was as fun as it sounds). But she knew she wanted to do something more impactful. When she found financial services, she realized it was where she was meant to be. For close to a decade, Abbie has worked with RIAs, asset managers, custodians, and fintech companies in the wealth management industry. Today, she and her team represent more than a dozen industry leading firms, with a specialization in ESG, SRI, and green investing.

    How lucky are we that Abbie is now sharing her insight and experience on the Your Brilliant Difference Podcast, helping you tailor and build your brand with a PR twist.

    In Episode 184 You Will Learn:

    Exactly what PR is and isn’t. How to leverage PR to boost your brand credibility. How to achieve PR with a limited budget. The power of engaging with media for personal branding. How the media landscape is evolving and the implications of AI. How to start approaching the possibilities of PR to enhance your personal brand.

    Connect with Abbie Sheridan

    Abbie Sheridan on LinkedIn Greenrose Communications

    Career Advancement Report Coming December 13th!

    For the first time ever, Finka Jerkovic is publishing her first Finka Inc. Career Advancement Report, informing you about what to focus on in 2025 to rise and shine at work. Join her Find Your Brilliance community newsletter and get a copy delivered right to your inbox as soon as it’s released.

    [Sign Up for Release Day Delivery]

  • Whether you’re pitching an idea to leadership, leading a meeting, or delivering a keynote at a conference, they’re all forms of presenting. Within each method, you’re presenting your ideas, guiding other’s ideas, and aiming to inspire action within people. All of it can be stressful. Whether you speak to 5 people,15, 50, or 500, your palms may clam up and suddenly you’ve lost your train of thought, derailing from your perfectly crafted script. But here’s the thing — you don’t need a script to efficiently communicate. What you do need is your authentic, confident voice, which Julie Johnson will teach you to hone in this week’s Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode.

    Julie Johnson is the CEO of XY Communication and a leading authority on intergenerational and gender communication. As a current member of the esteemed Forbes Coaches Council and a former Barron's winning SVP with UBS (CFP & CIMA), she has devoted her career to helping professionals and teams build trust, engagement, and loyalty. Specializing in psychological safety and conflict navigation, she is a Certified Behavioral Finance Trainer, a Certified Facilitator in Adam Grant & Ray Dalio’s PrinciplesYou program, a Certified Brene Brown Daring Way Facilitator, a Globally licensed member of the International Coaching Federation, and a Certified Global Speaker through The National Speaker Association.

    Listen to this episode and learn from Julie as she teaches you how to tailor your communication to meet people where they are. You’ll also learn how to apply techniques to help you refine your big idea and voice it with confidence, authenticity, and influence.

    The Agenda for Today’s Episode:

    What exactly is an authentic, confident voice? PrinciplesYou Assessment overview and how it informs workplace communication. How to overcome presentation anxiety. Presentation tips and best practices. How Julie’s public speaking and presenting experience has impacted her career. How to leverage LinkedIn to amplify your authentic, confident voice and build a brand that drives your career.

    Connect with Julie Johnson

    Julie Johnson on LinkedIn

    Career Advancement Report Coming December 13th!

    For the first time ever, Finka Jerkovic is publishing her first Finka Inc. Career Advancement Report, informing you about what to focus on in 2025 to rise and shine at work. Join her Find Your Brilliance community newsletter and get a copy delivered right to your inbox as soon as it’s released.

    [Sign Up for Release Day Delivery]

  • Episodi mancanti?

    Fai clic qui per aggiornare il feed.

  • Many people face the challenge of a job transition, whether it be from a reorganization or their own choice. When it comes your time to move into a new industry, role, or company, how can you ensure you approach the process the right way and acquire a job that’s aligned with your Brilliant Difference?

    Jeff Brown has the answers. Jeff has been through several job transitions and Edge Moves in his career. Born and raised in Toronto, his love for the city drives his work. His experience in human resources and operations was honed on Bay Street, leading transformational real estate projects in banking. This then led him to join The Heaps Estrin Team Real Estate Team, Royal LePage’s #1 Residential Brokerage in Canada for the past five years. Jeff’s focus on developing and growing teams is a hallmark of his leadership.

    From entering banking during a financial crisis in 2009 to working in travel and hospitality when COVID-19 hit, Jeff shares his stories about not only how he successfully transitioned jobs, but the resilience he developed during times of adversity. He expands on honing his Brilliant Difference and transferrable skills and offers three strategies you can apply when thinking about making a job change.

    The Agenda for Today’s Episode:

    02:25 — Career Transition 1: From Banking to Hospitality

    12:18 — Cultural Shifts in New Work Environments

    18:37 — Crisis Management During the Pandemic

    23:23 — Career Transition 2: Embracing New Opportunities in Real Estate

    25:12 — Navigating Job Descriptions and Interviews: 3 Strategies

    31:48 — Embracing Change and Risk in Career Moves

    36:47 — Reaching Out and Building Connections

    39:57 — Jeff's Current Endeavors and Future Plans

    Connect With Jeff Brown

    Jeff Brown on LinkedIn

    Share Your Voice, Forge a Brilliant Workplace

    I’m on a mission to build a brilliant workplace where everyone thrives and career dreams turn into reality, but I need your help! Fill out a quick anonymous, 7-minute survey to contribute to my first-ever Career Advancement Report (coming end of year). Share what’s top of mind for you at work and inform a resource that will help you rise and shine at work in 2025.

    [Access Your Survey]

  • ‘Tis the season for performance reviews. I can picture it from my corporate days, gathering questions and scheduling meetings to have performance discussions with my employees. But with that comes nerves, excitement, worry, doubt. So how can managers prime the environment to ensure a safe and productive conversation happens for both parties?

    Psychotherapist of 40 years and author, Steven Kessler, will teach you how by applying the five personality patterns. Kessler is the author of two books: The 5 Personality Patterns and How to Have Better Relationships. In his first novel, Kessler explains the five personality patterns: Leaving, Merging, Enduring, Aggressive, and Rigid. They don’t depict who you are, but rather what you do. They’re safety strategies we lean on. In his second novel, he explains how these safety strategies and patterns can impact relationships.

    Specifically, in this Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode, we’ll be diving into how these patterns can impact a manager’s performance review conversation with an employee. We walk you through a workplace scenario and give managers tips on how to detect their employees’ personality patterns, as well as how to handle them.

    The Agenda for Today’s Episode:

    00:00 — An Introduction to the 5 Personality Patterns

    03:03 — Understanding Safety Strategies and Personality Development

    05:58 — Exploring the Leaving Pattern

    09:04 — The Merging Pattern Explained

    11:51 — The Enduring Pattern and Its Implications

    14:51 — The Aggressive Pattern and Its Dynamics

    17:56 — The Rigid Pattern and Its Characteristics

    21:06 — Self-Awareness and Patterns in Relationships

    24:03 — Utilizing Patterns as Gifts in Professional Settings

    26:51 — Navigating Difficult Conversations in the Workplace

    32:41 — The Power of Connection and Feedback

    39:03 — Understanding Different Patterns in Communication

    46:45 — Managing Energy in Interactions

    55:11 — Grounding Techniques for Different Patterns

    01:03:02 — The Importance of Presence in Life

    Previous Episode with Steven Kessler

    Episode 136: Exploring the 5 Personality Patterns with Steven Kessler

    Connect With Steven Kessler

    https://the5personalitypatterns.com/

    Share Your Voice, Forge a Brilliant Workplace

    I’m on a mission to build a brilliant workplace where everyone thrives and career dreams turn into reality, but I need your help! Fill out a quick anonymous, 7-minute survey to contribute to my first-ever Career Advancement Report (coming end of year). Share what’s top of mind for you at work and inform a resource that will help you rise and shine at work in 2025.

    [Access Your Survey]

  • Regardless of gender, everyone brings a mixture of feminine or masculine energy. Some people lean on one more than the other. Masculine energy is described as “doing” and acting based on logic, knowledge, results, and reason. On the flip side, feminine energy is defined as “being,” acting based on intuition and emotions. Words that often describe masculine energy include confrontation, aggression, and control, whereas words related to feminine energy include oversensitive and co-dependant. So, you can see how these energies aren’t actually tied to a gender—a woman can be aggressive and a man can sensitive. Neither of these energies are wrong. In fact, there are several benefits to both. But it’s about finding a balance at work.

    In episode 180 of the Your Brilliant Difference Podcast, Finka shares a personal workplace story where, during a particular situation, there was a dominance in masculine energy and how leaning on her feminine energy as a Brilliant Difference created a meaningful change her workplace needed. Suddenly, people were more comfortable, had open communication, and shared their vulnerabilities, building trust and strong relationships.

    Remember, both energies are good, but consider: which should you bring at work? Apply this to situations as you experience them.

    Share Your Voice, Forge a Brilliant Workplace

    I’m on a mission to build a brilliant workplace where everyone thrives and career dreams turn into reality, but I need your help! Fill out a quick anonymous, 7-minute survey to contribute to my first-ever Career Advancement Report (coming end of year). Share what’s top of mind for you at work and inform a resource that will help you rise and shine at work in 2025.

    [Access Your Survey]

  • With different personalities, professional and personal backgrounds, and communication preferences, you’re bound to experience conflicting conversations at work. So, how can you handle situations where you don’t see eye-to-eye with someone, in a way that supports your career growth and relationship progression? Through the Simpatico Communication Method.

    Who better to talk about the Simpatico Communication Method than Arnie Buss, its co-founder. Arnie is also a Research Associate Professor, a relationship coach, and the co-author of Hear Here: Engaging With Our Aware, Loving Heart. He is passionate about communication and how it impacts workplace relationships.

    In this Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode, you’ll learn about what the Simpatico Communication Method is, how to apply it, and how to become a stronger communicator to rise in your career, even when you don’t necessarily agree with people.

    The Agenda for Today’s Episode:

    02:38 — Arnie’s Journey in Academia and Military Education

    06:22 — The Concept of Vocation in Career Choices

    09:09 — Finding Purpose in Corporate Work

    11:22 — Communication Dynamics in Military Leadership

    20:27 — How Hear Here Came to Be

    26:44 — The Power of Empathetic Communication

    27:34 — Simple vs. Ease in Communication

    29:02 — The Role of the Sender and Receiver

    30:32 — Requesting Change: Language to Use

    35:25 — Energy Matching in Communication

    44:12 — Transforming Conflict into Connection

    Connect With Arnie Buss

    Arnie Buss on LinkedIn No More Arguments Report

    Share Your Voice, Forge a Brilliant Workplace

    I’m on a mission to build a brilliant workplace where everyone thrives and career dreams turn into reality, but I need your help! Fill out a quick anonymous, 7-minute survey to contribute to my first-ever Career Advancement Report (coming end of year). Share what’s top of mind for you at work and inform a resource that will help you rise and shine at work in 2025.

    [Access Your Survey]

  • For four years, you work through four levels of high school. With each new grade, you get more specific about who you are and what you want to do with the rest of your life. You graduate and choose a profession, dedicating another 2-4+ years to learning and growing. Then you graduate again, but this time into the workforce, without a roadmap to help you know how to make it all work and traverse to the destinations you desire.

    They don’t teach you how to advance in your career in school but feeling inspired after coming back from a client event, I’m sharing with you four strategies that will make your journey clearer and more successful.

    They key is using your Brilliant Difference brand, a personal branding method that flips the script from “me” to “we” so you can focus on how you make a difference, a meaningful impact, in the world.

    In episode 178 of the Your Brilliant Difference Podcast, here are the four strategies I discuss:

    1. Give yourself permission to shine.

    2. Invite others to shine with you.

    3. Bring your whole self.

    4. Make it personal.

    What do these mean and how can you apply these career advancement strategies to get noticed and rise along the corporate ladder? Tune in! I even share real-time workplace stories embodying each strategy in action.

    The Agenda for Today:

    01:30 — Leadership Development Program: The Inspiration Behind the Episode

    08:33 — What is Your Brilliant Difference?

    08:49 — Strategy 1: Give Yourself Permission to Shine

    12:27: — Strategy 2: Invite Others to Shine With You

    16:33 — Strategy 3: Bring Your Whole Self

    21:15 — Strategy 4: Make It Personal

    Want More Support in Elevating Your Personal Brand to Achieve Your Desired Career Results? Join the Your Brilliant Difference Bootcamp Waitlist!

    Your Brilliant Difference Bootcamp is a cutting-edge program for corporate professionals, like yourself. Within this program, you’ll discover how to excel in your career and leadership by learning and applying a personal branding method that actually works: Your Brilliant Difference.

    Through course materials, coaching, and community, you’ll uncover exactly what your Brilliant Difference is and how to leverage your personal brand at work to get promoted and noticed.

    [Join the Waitlist]

  • The workplace is constantly evolving. In 2020, remote work was the norm. Shortly after, hybrid settings took over, and now full-time in-office may be the status quo once more. Artificial intelligence is starting to take over certain jobs in specific industries. People are no longer just tired—they’re burnt out. These are just some of the challenges standing in your way of advancing in your career.

    But don’t worry. In this Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode, you’ll learn exactly what the top 5 current career barriers are and how to overcome them to reach success. When you’re done listening, you’ll know exactly what you need to do to harness your personal brand (Brilliant Difference) to get noticed and promoted and shine in your work.

    The Agenda for Today’s Episode:

    00:00 — Embracing Your Brilliant Difference

    03:10 — Identifying Career Barriers

    05:53 — The Impact of Burnout and Disengagement

    09:04 — Navigating Remote and Hybrid Workplaces

    11:56 — The Importance of Digital Presence

    14:45 — Understanding the Role of AI

    18:13 — The Need for Continuous Skill Upgrades

    28:41 — Essential Skills for Career Advancement

    31:27 — The Importance of Personal Branding

    36:47 — Building Your Brilliant Difference Brand

    46:39 — Transformative Personal Branding Success Stories

    51:12 — The Path to Career Growth and Leadership

    Want More Support in Elevating Your Personal Brand to Achieve Your Desired Career Results? Join the Your Brilliant Difference Bootcamp Waitlist!

    Your Brilliant Difference Bootcamp is a cutting-edge program for corporate professionals, like yourself. Within this program, you’ll discover how to excel in your career and leadership by learning and applying a personal branding method that actually works: Your Brilliant Difference.

    Through course materials, coaching, and community, you’ll uncover exactly what your Brilliant Difference is and how to leverage your personal brand at work to get promoted and noticed.

    [Join the Waitlist]

  • You have ambitious career goals, and you deserve to achieve them. But let’s face it. Getting there and making them happen is easier said than done. Thanks imposter syndrome and self-doubt, to name a few.

    But in this Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode, Kisha Wynter, Founder of Wynter Rich Enterprises and Author of debut novel, Your Power Unleashed: How Savvy Women Use Courage to Get Promoted, Get Paid, and Find Fulfillment, teaches you her famous DIVA method and how it can help you get promoted and noticed at work, despite doubt and uncertainty.

    Wynter Rich Enterprises is a boutique leadership consulting firm where Kisha helps mission-driven companies create healthy coaching cultures where all talent thrives regardless of background. A leadership consultant, executive coach, author, and speaker, she’s a trailblazer in women’s leadership strategy. She has over two decades of corporate experience with a track record of developing and training leaders in over 50 countries.

    How lucky are you to be exposed to 2 decades of leadership consulting and executive coaching expertise? Kisha talks about the mindset blocks she’s experienced in her own career, and how her method and coaching can help you break through those blocks too, to finally own your power and make your career dreams a reality.

    Here’s What We’ll Be Talking About Today:

    00:00 — Unlocking Your Power and Potential

    02:32 — The Journey to Authorship

    06:47 — Overcoming Doubts and Embracing the Writer Within

    12:59 — The Writing Process: From Inspiration to Publication

    18:20 — Navigating Feedback and Building Resilience

    25:46 — Core Themes of the Novel, Your Power Unleashed

    30:36 — The DIVA Method Overview

    39:33 — Investing in Yourself: The Key to Growth

    41:55 — Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers

    Connect With Kisha Wynter

    Kisha Wynter on LinkedIn Your Power Unleashed Website

    Find Your Brilliance Beyond the Podcast

    Diving into and honing your Brilliant Difference (personal brand) is a constant work in progress. While this episode is a great start, there’s more content to help support you on your career journey: Finka Jerkovic’s Find Your Brilliance Newsletter.

    Once per week, get a fresh content round up delivered right to your inbox with insight, stories, and collaborative expertise to help you rise and shine in your career.

    [Subscribe to Rise and Shine in Your Career]

  • There are two important concepts that make the workplace sphere go round: emotional intelligence (EQ) and giving back to the upcoming generations to ensure their success in our footsteps. But how can you lead those younger than you and embed emotional intelligence to create a safe, thriving environment?

    Khristian Jones will teach you how. As the Co-Founder of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship and an Interiors Engineer at United Airlines, she’s passionate about diversifying the aerospace industry and opening space for all people. Through the fellowship, she leads and guides students in the aerospace field to ensure they have the most stress-free, successful career pathways from entering post-secondary, to graduating, to entering the field.

    While Khristian’s perspective brings a unique STEM twist to the Your Brilliant Difference Podcast, the concepts and tips can be applied throughout many industries. Tune in to see how you can level up your leadership through EQ and mentoring younger generations.

    Here’s What We’ll Be Talking About Today:

    01:23 — Khristian’s Career Journey in STEM

    06:32 — The Patty Grace Smith Fellowship: Empowering People in Aerospace

    12:20 — Outcomes of the Fellowship and Giving Back to Youth

    17:22 — The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Aerospace

    21:40 — Challenges in the Aerospace Industry

    26:14 — The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

    31:43 — Tips for Increasing Proficiency in Emotional Intelligence

    Connect With Khristian Jones

    Khristian Jones on LinkedIn

    Register for Personal Branding Keynote

    In this Keynote presentation, Finka Jerkovic will teach you exactly how to use the Your Brilliant Difference Method to uncover your personal brand, so you can understand how you’re uniquely wired to add value to the workplace, helping you stand out and get noticed.

    REGISTER HERE.

  • We live in a world where we’re constantly off to the races. Off to the next project. Off to the next meeting. Off to the next social media post. Off to the next promotion. But when was the last time you slowed down and took a beat? You probably can’t recall, right? You’re not alone, but continuing this way can make it harder to overcome workplace and personal stress, preventing you from excelling in your career.

    In this week’s Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode, you’ll learn the tools to turn things around from stressful to blissful from the Founder of Zen Rabbit, Lori Saitz.

    As the founder of the Zen Leadership Program for results-focused professionals, she is a leading authority on improving productivity and engagement through workplace well-being. With a comprehensive background in wellness and communication strategies, Lori helps executives create focused, resilient, and collaborative teams that can move projects forward with less stress and drama. You can listen to Lori on her own podcast too, Fine is a 4-Letter Word, where she engages guests in conversations about how they've grown from a time in their lives when things were decidedly NOT fine.

    We’re constantly a work in progress (our career journeys and personal brands), which means we need to navigate through all the situations, good or bad. Tune into this podcast episode to help you swap workplace stress for wellness, so you can rise in your career.

    Here’s What We’ll Be Talking About Today:

    00:00 — An Introduction to Workplace Well-being

    02:59 — The Power of Authentic Communication

    09:09 — The Evolution of Zen Rabbit

    15:05 — The Interplay of Well-being and Communication

    17:57 — Our Individual Responsibility in Well-being

    20:53 — Meditation: A Tool for Focus and Clarity

    27:01 — The Importance of Taking Breaks

    29:52 — How to Live a Sabbatical Life and Find Balance

    Mentioned Resources:

    Staying Calm in Chaos (digital audio program)

    Connect With Lori Saitz

    Lori Saitz on LinkedIn

    Register for Personal Branding Keynote

    In this Keynote presentation, Finka Jerkovic will teach you exactly how to use the Your Brilliant Difference Method to uncover your personal brand, so you can understand how you’re uniquely wired to add value to the workplace, helping you stand out and get noticed.

    REGISTER HERE.

    Become the Next Your Brilliant Difference™ Podcast Guest

    Have a brilliant story you want to share that surrounds leadership, team building, communication skills, or leaning on your brilliance and strengths to drive meaningful results? Click HERE to fill out the application form, and our team will be in touch!

  • Standing out and embracing your differences isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most beneficial and fulfilling things that can help you grow personally and professionally within your career.

    Facing her fair share of obstacles and triumphs, Louise Taylor, Founder of FireflyEffect and the Collaborative Author of All Out Impact, explains how she’s persevered to live out her authentic impact despite career adversity.

    Louise is a passionate, discerning expert with over 20 years of experience as a corporate brand and marketing executive, leader, and entrepreneur. With a keen eye for what makes each business truly special, Louise delves deep into the hearts of brands and goals of businesses, illuminating new insights, developing sound strategies, and empowering eager teams. As a Fascinate Certified Advisor, she’s honed her skills to not only identify but also amplify the inherent brilliance of individual businesses, ensuring it resonates with and captivates their desired audience.

    In this Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode, Louise explains how being let go from her corporate role was her golden ticket to embracing her most authentic self and designing a career that aligns with her identity.

    Tune in to learn how you can bring your most authentic self to work too!

    Here’s What We’ll Be Talking About Today:

    00:00 — A Journey of Self-Discovery

    12:29 — Navigating Career Transitions: Finding Support and Clarity

    17:18 — The Power of Authenticity: Embracing Vulnerability

    28:45 — Collaborative Impact: The All Out Impact Experience

    38:17 — Creating a Legacy: The Importance of Authentic Impact

    Mentioned Resources:

    All Out Impact: The Actionable Advice of 23 Entrepreneurs on a Mission to Empower Others to Live All-Out, Impactful Lives “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” — Dr. Suess

    Connect With Louise Taylor

    Louise Taylor on LinkedIn

    Register for Personal Branding Keynote

    In this Keynote presentation, Finka Jerkovic will teach you exactly how to use the Your Brilliant Difference Method to uncover your personal brand, so you can understand how you’re uniquely wired to add value to the workplace, helping you stand out and get noticed.

    REGISTER HERE.

    Become the Next Your Brilliant Difference™ Podcast Guest

    Have a brilliant story you want to share that surrounds leadership, team building, communication skills, or leaning on your brilliance and strengths to drive meaningful results? Click HERE to fill out the application form, and our team will be in touch!

  • Unicorn isn’t just a mythical creature; it’s an acronym for the elements of powerful leadership. Picture yourself in a career where you’re scared to try new things, but you do them anyway. Imagine having the confidence to bet on yourself to take you to new milestones and meaningful impacts. Envision purposeful work where you get to practice empathy and show up as your authentic self. You can do all of this and more with UNICORN leadership.

    Meet the creator of this term, Founder of Lighthouse Leadership Consultants, and author of UNICORN Leader, Kristi Straw. She's a strategist by mind, a rebel by heart, and a UNICORN by spirit. Known for blending compassion with audacity, Kristi doesn't just walk the talk; she dances it, leading change with a flair that's as bold and brazen as her leadership style. Hold onto your seats, because with Kristi at the helm, you're in for a whirlwind journey of transformation, disruption, and outright leadership revolution!

    Yes, being a unicorn is about standing out, but in Kristi's vision, it’s an acronym for 6 elements of leadership that can help you show up more boldly in your career. Find out what they are and how you can use them by tuning into this Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode.

    Here’s What We’ll Be Talking About Today:

    03:59 — The Essence of a Unicorn Leader

    08:57 — Elements of Unicorn Leadership

    14:12 — Navigating Career Transitions

    19:00 — The Impact Legacy Lab

    23:01 — UNICORN Leader Book Recommendation

    26:59 — The Power of Personal Branding

    Mentioned Resources:

    UNICORN Leader: Driving Innovation and Influence in the Modern Workplace by Kristi Straw Unicorn Leader Impact Assessment Untamed by Glennon Doyle Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD

    Connect With Kristi Straw

    Kristi Straw on LinkedIn

    Register for Personal Branding Keynote

    In this Keynote presentation, Finka Jerkovic will teach you exactly how to use the Your Brilliant Difference Method to uncover your personal brand, so you can understand how you’re uniquely wired to add value to the workplace, helping you stand out and get noticed.

    REGISTER HERE.

    Become the Next Your Brilliant Difference™ Podcast Guest

    Have a brilliant story you want to share that surrounds leadership, team building, communication skills, or leaning on your brilliance and strengths to drive meaningful results? Click HERE to fill out the application form, and our team will be in touch!

  • Teamwork makes the dream work. I know it’s an overused saying, but I love it because it’s so true. When we open our horizons, especially in our careers, and collaborate with people of different ages, backgrounds, and experiences, that’s when we make the dream work. That’s when we reach new milestones and hit new goals. Collaborating with others pushes us and tests us, so that we can develop and grow in ways we never thought possible.

    One of the best ways to collaborate and make your dream work in your career is through mentor/mentee relationships, which Kellan Brown, Executive Director of the FinServ Foundation and Founder of her own consulting firm, highlights in today’s Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode.

    Mentorship and mentee relationships have played a starring role in Kellan’s successful career journey to date. She has worked in various leadership roles including being a Chief Growth Officer at Income Lab, the Senior Vice President at Finance of America Reverse, and the Vice President/Chief Growth Officer at PrimeCo. She is considered a subject matter expert for implementing mentorship programs in firms and non-profits, and currently is the Executive Director of Mentorship for the FinServ Foundation where their mission is to empower the next generation of financial professionals through coaching, mentorship, and community.

    An ambassador for mentorship, Kellan tells you all about how mentorship can impact and enhance your career, and how you can go about approaching these types of relationships.

    Here’s What We’ll Be Talking About Today:

    00:00 — Kellan Brown Introduction

    04:04 — A Day in the Life as the Executive Director at FinServe Foundation

    06:16 — The Journey to Mentorship and the Importance of Giving Back

    15:13 — Defining Mentorship and Different Mentor Styles

    17:28 — Finding and Choosing a Mentor

    19:03 — Implementing Mentorship Programs

    21:45 — The Impact of Mentorship on Career Growth

    23:04 — Creating a Culture of Promotion and Talent Succession

    25:30 — The Fulfillment of Mentoring

    28:27 — The Importance of Diversity in Mentorship Programs

    29:58 — The Power of Informal Mentorship Relationships

    Mentioned Resources:

    Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy by Mo Gawdat The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma

    Connect With Kellan Brown

    Kellan Brown on LinkedIn

    Register for Personal Branding Keynote

    In this Keynote presentation, Finka Jerkovic will teach you exactly how to use the Your Brilliant Difference Method to uncover your personal brand, so you can understand how you’re uniquely wired to add value to the workplace, helping you stand out and get noticed.

    REGISTER HERE.

    Become the Next Your Brilliant Difference™ Podcast Guest

    Have a brilliant story you want to share that surrounds leadership, team building, communication skills, or leaning on your brilliance and strengths to drive meaningful results? Click HERE to fill out the application form, and our team will be in touch!

  • Have you heard the saying, there are two things you can never escape from in life: death and taxes? Well, there’s also something that’s inescapable in your career, whether you work in corporate or are an entrepreneur: setbacks. Obstacles. Challenges. Scenarios that will bring you down and try to keep you there. But you can’t because you have a Brilliant Difference to share, a team to support, and clients to work with!

    With some setbacks being more difficult than others, it can feel next to impossible to pull yourself out of the trenches, but in this week’s Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode, Kerry-Ann Powell teaches you how.

    Kerry-Ann is a globally recognized business strategist, speaker, and champion of small- and medium-sized businesses. Her varied experience of over 20 years as a Washington, DC attorney, lobbyist, and fundraiser positions her as an authority of what it takes to strategically succeed while confronting difficult obstacles. After raising $120 million to build the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, she launched her business strategy consulting firm, Trafalgar Strategies. She and her team advise business owners from various industries and countries on creating the strategies, systems, and mindsets to thrive in business and in life.

    Get comfy in your office or favourite spot in your house, replenish your drink, and listen as Kerry-Ann shares her own business setback story and the exercises and tactics she applied to continue moving forward to success.

    Here’s What We’ll Be Talking About Today:

    00:00 — Introduction and Background of Kerry-Ann Powell

    04:23 — Personal Setbacks and Overcoming Toxic Shame

    11:17 — The Importance of Identifying Root Causes and Processing

    19:05 — Somatic Practices for Regulating the Nervous System

    26:43 — The Importance of Regulating Emotions to Make Better Decisions

    30:13 — Transparent Communication: Kerry-Ann's Brilliant Difference

    39:29 — Faith as a Guide for Honest and Aligned Leadership

    44:28 — Reflecting on Your Brilliance to Navigate Challenges

    Mentioned Resources:

    Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving The 8 True Culprits That are Causing Chaos in Your Business

    Connect With Kerry-Ann Powell

    Kerry-Ann Powell on LinkedIn

    Become the Next Your Brilliant Difference™ Podcast Guest

    Have a brilliant story you want to share that surrounds leadership, team building, communication skills, or leaning on your brilliance and strengths to drive meaningful results? Click HERE to fill out the application form, and our team will be in touch!

  • As a corporate professional, no matter the industry, it can be easy to fall into default mode: doing things because they were asked of you or taking new opportunities and promotions because it’s what you’re supposed to do next, it’s the next rung on your career ladder. But have you stopped to think about what actually matters to you, what your expertise is, and how you want to apply that in your career?

    In episode 169 of the Your Brilliant Difference Podcast, Founder of Jessica Lackey Consulting, Jessica Lackey, offers guidance to help you answer this question and design a career where you’re owning and flourishing in your expertise.

    Once working in corporate and now transitioned to entrepreneurship, Jessica knows a thing or two about owning her expertise, as well as helping others do the same. She is a strategy and operations advisor who blends business strategy, practical application, and a human-centric approach to create sustainable businesses. With a background in corporate leadership, McKinsey & Company consulting, and a Harvard Business degree, Jessica knows a thing or two about hustle culture and what it feels like to judge success by the bottom line… at all costs. Now, she combines her deep experience in consulting, Fortune 500 operations leadership, and coaching to help businesses grow without sacrificing the well-being of their clients, team, and community.

    Here’s What We’ll Be Talking About Today:

    00:00 — A Background on Jessica Lackey

    07:25 — Recognizing the Need for Change in Corporate Environments

    13:10 — Transitioning to a New Job and Discovering Your Brilliant Difference™

    19:17 — Importance of Owning Your Expertise

    30:28 — Advice for Navigating Career Ups and Downs

    39:35 — Connect with Jessica Lackey

    Connect with Jessica Lackey

    Jessica Lackey on LinkedIn

    Become the Next Your Brilliant Difference™ Podcast Guest

    Have a brilliant story you want to share that surrounds leadership, team building, communication skills, or leaning on your brilliance and strengths to drive meaningful results? Click HERE to fill out the application form, and our team will be in touch!

  • When we don’t like something or something isn’t serving us, what do we usually do? Get rid of it! But what if that “something” is your job. Should you get rid of it and find something else? While every situation is different and there’s a time and a place for exiting your current position, I want you to consider these three things before job hopping:

    Have you thought about where you want to go? Have you upskilled and grown to your full capacity in your current role? Have you attempted to solve issues that could move your business and career forward?

    So, at times when you bask in the unhappiness that can come with your job and you ask yourself, “Should I job hop?”, I want you to first follow the three strategies I outline in this episode.

    What to Expect

    00:00 — Feeling Stuck in a Job You Don't Love

    07:32 — The Pitfalls of Job Hopping

    08:21 — Strategy 1: Don’t Run, Be Present

    09:56 — Strategy 2: Upskill

    11:45 — Strategy 3: Become a Problem-Solver

    Get a New Episode Delivered Right to Your Inbox Every Thursday

    I’ve made staying in the loop of content that will help you accelerate in your career easy. Every Thursday, I send my Find Your Brilliant Newsletter to courageous leaders and go-getters, where they can listen to new podcast episodes and read new blogs that help them navigate the next level of their careers. All content is created and collaborated by yours truly. Subscribe HERE.

  • You did it. You’re committing to making a leap from your comfort zone. You’re making an Edge Move! Maybe you’re proposing a new project at work or applying for a new position within your company. Maybe you’re taking the lead on a campaign or managing a client meeting. But as you execute your Edge Move, implementing new action by new action to get there, the voice of doubt, fear, and uncertainty consume you. “I can’t do this.” “I’ve never done this before.” “I can’t fail.” Dialogue along these lines are self-limiting beliefs: assumptions we have about ourselves and our work. And if you listen to them, they can hold you back in your comfort zone, stopping you from accomplishing your goals.

    I’m going through this right now. From July and now into August, I’ve been preparing and creating a client presentation that’s has undoubtedly left my knickers in a knot. I was excited when signing the contract, and now I’m full of second guesses and worry. After using three tactics that I’m going to share with you today, I was able to uncover and face my self-limiting beliefs, not letting them get in the way of me rocking this keynote presentation.

    The three tactics include:

    Feeling the squirm.

    Reflecting on your emotions and finding the source.

    Considering the passengers in your vehicle.

    What do these tactics mean and how can you apply them? Tune in to the newest Your Brilliant Difference Podcast episode to find out.

    What to Expect

    00:00 — Introduction: Self-Sabotage and Stepping Outside of Your Comfort Zone

    02:41 — Feeling and Navigating Internal Struggles

    09:01 — The Power of Reflection and Contemplation

    17:26 — Uncovering Different Versions of Self

    33:49 — Taking Control of the Wheel: Trusting Yourself for Desired Outcomes

    Get a New Episode Delivered Right to Your Inbox Every Thursday

    I’ve made staying in the loop of content that will help you accelerate in your career easy. Every Thursday, I send my Find Your Brilliant Newsletter to courageous leaders and go-getters, where they can listen to new podcast episodes and read new blogs that help them navigate the next level of their careers. All content is created and collaborated by yours truly. Subscribe HERE.

  • You can gather a lot of inspiration in the world from TV, social media, websites, and articles. The list goes on and on. But recently the Paris 2024 Olympics caught my eye, or rather a particular athlete who I believe embodies Your Brilliant Difference to a T. You might have heard her name and know her as a prominent and talented gymnast on team USA: Simone Biles.

    Consuming media coverage from this year’s Olympics and sifting through stories about her past performance experiences, I’ve gathered three lessons from her brand and impact that will help you live out your Brilliant Difference and live your life, both professionally and personally, to the fullest.

    What to Expect

    00:00 — Inspiration From Simone Biles

    03:23 — Lesson 1: Own Your Unique Brilliance

    07:10 — Lesson 2: Take Care of Your Brilliant Difference

    14:17 — Lesson 3: Celebrate Your Wins

    17:01 — Career Growth Invitation

    Get a New Episode Delivered Right to Your Inbox Every Thursday

    I’ve made staying in the loop of content that will help you accelerate in your career easy. Every Thursday, I send my Find Your Brilliance Newsletter to courageous leaders and go-getters, where they can listen to new podcast episodes and read new blogs that help them navigate the next level of their careers. All content is created and collaborated by yours truly. Subscribe HERE.

  • Leadership is built on conversations. To move the needle, your voice needs to be heard, as do the voices of your team. But let’s face the elephant in the room: not all conversations will be easy. Some will be difficult. Some will be polarizing. Some will consist of conflicting ideas and opinions. So how do you make a positive impact despite (and being inclusive of) diverse views?

    Who better to answer this question than Karen Jones, Founder and President of Sacred Leadership Solutions. She’s also the Vice President of Learning and Partner Solutions at NextUp. To say that she’s done profound work is an understatement. With 15+ years of experience in leadership development, talent management, and process improvement, Karen is seasoned in handling polarizing environments and helping leaders navigate difficult conversations. Working with Fortune 500 companies like American Express and Ulta Beauty, she implements human capital strategies that produce desired and sustained outcomes. She specializes in designing emotionally safe discussion environments and has extensive experience in delivering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) strategies.

    In her Your Brilliant Difference Podcast interview, Karen discloses the main cause for people avoiding difficult conversations at work—relationship erosion.

    But Karen pulls back the curtain and shares how approaching polarizing conversations with “Speaking From Centre” can be beneficial and productive for organizations.

    Tune in to learn how to have difficult conversations at work that produce productive, meaningful outcomes.

    Here’s What We’ll Be Talking About Today:

    00:00 — An Introduction to Karen Jones

    03:00 — The Importance of Navigating Difficult Conversations in a Polarizing World

    10:18 — Practical Tools for Productive Conversations

    20:49 — The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Conversations

    30:33 — Leadership Words of Wisdom: How to Be Distinctive

    37:59 — Karen Jones' Brilliant Difference

    Connect with Karen Jones

    Karen Jones on LinkedIn

    Become the Next Your Brilliant Difference™ Podcast Guest

    Have a brilliant story you want to share that surrounds leadership, team building, communication skills, or leaning on your brilliance and strengths to drive meaningful results? Click HERE to fill out the application form, and our team will be in touch!