Tag: personal-development
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The Missing Ask: Why We Negotiate Salary but Wait for Promotions
I’m currently reading Women Don’t Ask by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever. If you haven’t read it yet, put it on your list. It explores a painful truth that many of us know instinctively: women are often much less likely than men to negotiate for what they want, assuming that hard work alone will be…
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The Biggest Productivity Lie: Why Time Management Fails the Exhausted Leader
When I first started climbing the ladder, I was obsessed with time management. Like many leaders in tech, I viewed my planner as the ultimate tool for control. I color-coded my calendar, mastered task batching, and achieved near-perfect calendar utilization. I was “doing it all.” The painful truth? Despite my perfect schedule, I was running…
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Shut Up and Listen: A Better Way to Start as a New Leader
When I stepped into my first VP role, I thought I had to hit the ground running. I had experience. A strong track record. A big title. So I thought I had to prove something — fast. But what I’ve learned (and what I now help new leaders navigate through coaching) is this: The best…
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Sometimes Your Plan Needs to Get Out of the Way
Is your plan serving your purpose — or limiting it? Discover the questions that can help you stay open to unexpected opportunities aligned with your true mission.
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Own Your Narrative: The Key to Getting Promoted (and Growing as a Leader)
Many believe hard work alone leads to promotions, but effective storytelling about one’s impact, challenges, and leadership is essential. Individuals often struggle to articulate their narratives, especially in ambiguous environments. Understanding how to own and present their stories can significantly impact career advancement and personal growth.
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When Was the Last Time You Started Something Completely New?
This weekend, I assisted in a Co-Active Coaching Fundamentals course. It brought me back to a time—less than two years ago—when I sat in that very same course, not as an assistant, but as a student. I didn’t know then just how much of a turning point it would become. Back then, I was just…
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Empower Your Career: When to Choose a Mentor or Coach
My journey as a mentor began years ago, working primarily with women and young entrepreneurs. There was something deeply fulfilling about sharing my experiences and knowledge, watching these talented individuals navigate challenges I had faced before. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting numerous professionals as they built their businesses and advanced their…
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Wanderlust as a Career Catalyst: How Traveling Can Redefine Your Professional Journey
In the relentless pursuit of career success, I’ve found myself all too often trapped in a cycle of expectations – corporate ladders to climb, societal pressures to conform, and predefined paths that can slowly suffocate my true potential. But as an avid traveler, I’ve discovered that the key to unlocking my most authentic professional self…
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The Mindful Leader: Buddhist Teachings for Modern Businesses
In my previous post, “The Sabbatical Less Traveled: From Google Director to Buddhist Student”, I shared my transformative experience at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. Today, I want to share some of my learnings, and explore how Buddhist practices and principles can revolutionize modern leadership. While many discuss Buddhism’s personal benefits, its potential for transforming business…
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The Sabbatical Less Traveled: From Google Director to Buddhist Student
As I shared in my previous post about leaving Google, many people approached me eager to hear more about my sabbatical year. Today, I want to share the transformative experience of learning and practicing Buddhism at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. A Dream Fulfilled While I’d taken Buddhist courses and weekend retreats before, this was my…
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The Mentor Within: A Simple Question That Changes Everything
Recently, during a coaching session with a new client facing a significant career challenge, I introduced them to a tool so simple it almost feels like magic. As we explored their struggles and aspirations, I asked, “What would you tell yourself if you were your own mentor?” The impact was immediate. My client paused, leaned…
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Why I Left My Director Role at Google: A Case for Intentional Career Breaks
The Difficult Decision My path to this sabbatical wasn’t conventional. As a Director at Google with a passion for coaching and helping people grow, I found myself at a critical crossroads. My current workplace didn’t offer a sabbatical option, which meant making the bold decision to resign and design a year of intentional personal and…
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Navigating Career Pivots: The Jungle Gym Approach
As career coaches, we often work with clients who are contemplating a major career move. One client, in particular, was considering a shift into a new field she was deeply passionate about. However, she was unsure if this move would necessarily advance her career in the direction she ultimately wanted to go. Through our discussions,…
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The Power of Purpose
I’ll admit it – I was a skeptic. Sitting in my first coaching certification course, I inwardly cringed when the instructor started talking about “life purpose.” As a seasoned tech executive, I wanted concrete tools and measurable outcomes, not what seemed like abstract philosophical concepts. But my journey as a coach has completely transformed my…
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The Guitar’s Leadership Lessons
Starting My Musical Journey as an Adult It sat in our basement, a gleaming acoustic guitar, both beckoning and mocking. “Aren’t you a bit old for this?” the voice in my head whispered. “Shouldn’t you have started this journey decades ago?”. The same voice had haunted my leadership aspirations early in my career – that…
Mor Schlesinger 