One of the most common pieces of feedback ambitious professionals get: “You just need to be more strategic.” If you’ve ever heard that, you probably walked away wondering: Okay… but what does that even mean? It sounds like a compliment and a critique at the same time. And because no one actually explains what “strategic” looks like, most people try to fix it by doing more of what they already do. They create fancier presentations. They add more data. They make sure every bull

Do you know how to introduce yourself to leave a lasting impact? Most people don’t. They either read a résumé out loud… or play it so safe they sound like an intern. I’ve watched it happen in rooms full of brilliant leaders. And I’ve done it, too. Years ago, at a leadership offsite, I gave the most forgettable intro of my career. With a low voice, I shared my title, team. Done. Everyone nodded politely. Then the VP after me said, “I build the systems that make $50M look like

A tactical job isn’t a dead end. It’s a stepping stone if you know how to use it. Even if your role isn’t technically strategic right now, you can make it one. Every executive you admire started in a tactical role. None of them began their career setting corporate strategy. They grew into it by showing up differently: by learning how to frame their work, share insights, and position themselves as partners to the business. The mistake most high achievers make? They already hav

Most people think the hardest part of leadership is making big strategic decisions. In reality, it's the conversations you'd rather avoid. For me, it showed up in subtle ways at first. Instead of pushing back on unrealistic deadlines, I thought proving I could do everything made me look stronger. Instead of giving tough feedback, I just did the work for my team - which meant they lost the chance to grow. And every time I told myself, "It's easier this way." Spoiler: it wasn'

You have done everything right. You deliver. You fix. You take on the projects that matter because people trust you to land the plane....

Can you remember how you felt walking into your first meeting with senior leadership? I can. I was scared. My palms were sweaty. I...

When I joined Microsoft, I was supposed to report directly to a General Manager. It was the perfect setup: strong visibility, access to...

Let me tell you a secret about executive promotions. They don’t happen during performance reviews. They happen in conversations you’re...

Let’s start with a reality check: Most leaders are drowning in updates. Dashboards. Threads. Project trackers. Monthly reviews. Status...

Let me tell you something that still stings a little: I stayed stuck for years, not because I wasn’t qualified, but because I believed...

If you’ve worked in tech for more than a minute, you’ve probably experienced this: Just when you start to gain traction—your manager...

The best manager I ever had? He was also the one with the strongest boundaries. He didn’t say yes to every meeting. He wasn’t constantly...

Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things… but people still don’t see you as “leadership material”? You’re not alone. At a certain...

A few years ago, I coached a client who was known as the go-to person on her team. If something broke, she fixed it. If someone dropped...

I never set out to “make high six figures.” But by 37, I had. And more importantly, I did it on my terms. I think it’s partly because I...

A few years ago, I was networking hard, trying to land my second VP role. I had the experience. I had the results. But something wasn’t...

A few months ago, a VP client shared a brilliant new product idea with her exec team. She explained the opportunity clearly. Walked...

Most people’s LinkedIn profile says, “I’ve had jobs.” But if you're aiming for building an executive brand, showing thought leadership...

Early in my career, I thought my job as a leader was to have the answers. And I was good at it. Quick to solve. Always “on it.” Reliable....

You’re doing the work. You’re delivering results. You’re checking every box they asked for. So why is someone else getting promoted?...