Career Contessa
by Career Contessa
Latest episode
The Promotion Paradox: Why Leadership Declines as You Climb
The Promotion Paradox: Why Leadership Declines as You Climb
About this podcast
Shortcut your path to being more successful at work. This show helps you figure out what you truly want, land a job, make more money, advance your career, and improve your work life with actionable insights from experts that boost work performance.
We're covering job searches, job interviews, resumes, LinkedIn, how to get paid and get a salary raise, career growth tips, leadership and management advice, workplace interpersonal skills, wellness strategies, work-life balance, confidence, career transitions, workplace toxicity, and more!
Listen wherever you get your podcasts, follow @careercontessa on Instagram for daily career tips, and subscribe to our newsletter at www.careercontessa.com/newsletter
Episodes
The newest 50 of 416 episodes
- The Promotion Paradox: Why Leadership Declines as You Climb · 31 min · Episode 349Getting promoted doesn’t automatically make you a great leader. Lauren talks with author and business leader Sébastien Page about why high performers can struggle as they…
- 7 Workplace Conversations That Can Make or Break Your Career · 35 min · Episode 348The conversations you avoid at work could be holding your career back. Harvard Business School faculty member and Unspeakable author Christina Wing shares how to navigate seven…
- Why Simplicity Is Your Biggest Career Advantage in the AI Age · 33 min · Episode 347AI was supposed to make work easier—so why are we busier than ever? Lauren talks with Axios co-founder Roy Schwartz about why simplicity is becoming a career advantage and how to…
- Why Discipline Doesn't Work for Most People · 33 min · Episode 346Think you need more discipline to reach your goals? Jia Jiang, bestselling author of Rejection Proof and Easy Discipline, explains why relying on willpower and working harder…
- How to Protect Your Career from a Bad Manager · 41 min · Episode 345A bad manager can undermine your confidence, hurt your performance, and even derail your career. But what if quitting isn’t an option? Career coach and author Cathy Alfandre…
- How High-Achieving Women Heal Their "Success Wound" · 35 min · Episode 344Why do so many successful women still feel like they're falling behind—even after achieving the career milestones they once dreamed of? Executive coach and former Google leader…
- What Recruiters Know That Job Seekers Don't · 35 min · Episode 343Landing a job in today's market takes more than submitting applications and hoping for the best. Recruiter, career coach, and content creator Emily Durham ("Emily the Recruiter")…
- The "Fall Crunch": Why High Achievers Feel So Stuck This Time of Year · 30 min · Episode 342Feeling the pressure to make a big career move before the year ends? You're not alone. In this episode, licensed clinical psychologist Anne Josephson explains why ambitious…
- Your Thoughtload Is Sabotaging Your Focus: 3 Ways to Reset · 34 min · Episode 341Feel busy all day but still behind? It’s not your time—it’s your mental overload.In this episode, Lauren talks with Liane Davey, author of Thoughtload, about how to reduce…
- The Career Reset No One Talks About After 40 · 39 min · Episode 340Your 40s are supposed to feel like you’ve “made it.” So why does it often feel like a reset?In this episode, Lauren talks with Stacey Lindsay, author of Being 40, about why…
- Why “Just Learn AI” Is Bad Advice (And What to Do Instead) · 32 min · Episode 339AI is everywhere right now—and so is the pressure to “figure it out.” If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or behind, you’re not alone. In this episode, Lauren sits down with Jill…
- How to Build a Meaningful Career Without Following Your Passion · 34 min · Episode 338Is "follow your passion" actually bad career advice? Lauren sits down with bestselling author Tom Rath to discuss why passion isn't the key to fulfillment—and how contribution…
- The New Career Skill No One Talks About: Agility (AQ) · 31 min · Episode 337Uncertainty at work is everywhere—from AI shifts to layoffs to constant change. But how you respond to it can shape your career. In this episode, Lauren sits down with executive…
- What a Good LinkedIn Profile Looks Like in 2026 · 35 min · Episode 336LinkedIn isn’t just an online résumé anymore—it’s your personal brand, positioning tool, and one of the most powerful ways to attract opportunities in 2026. In this episode…
- Not Sure How to Use ChatGPT for Your Resume? A Smarter Way to Write and Tailor Your Application (Listener Favorite) · 21 min · Episode 335AI can make resume writing faster—but only if you know how to use it strategically. In this listener-favorite episode, learn how to use ChatGPT to write, tailor, and improve your…
- Why Some People Build Wealth (and Others Don’t): 5 Habits of Financially Successful People (Listener Favorite) · 34 min · Episode 334Why do some people build wealth and financial stability—while others feel stuck or constantly starting over? It’s not just about income—it’s about habits, mindset, and behavior…
- Why Traditional Productivity Advice Isn’t Working—And How to Work With Your Brain Instead (Listener Favorite) · 41 min · Episode 333What if the problem isn’t your productivity—but the way you’ve been taught to work?Most of us are still operating with outdated, industrial-era habits… even though today’s work…
- What’s Your Reputation at Work? How to Build a Personal Brand That Gets You Noticed (Listener Favorite) · 36 min · Episode 332Your reputation isn’t just what you do—it’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room. And whether you’re intentional about it or not, you already have a personal…
- Non-Obvious Tips for Standing Out in Today's Job Market · 31 min · Episode 330The job market has changed—and standing out requires more than a polished resume. In this episode, Lauren sits down with career expert Sam DeMase from ZipRecruiter to break down…
- The Truth About Executive Presence (and How to Build It Without Faking It) · 33 min · Episode 329Executive presence is one of the most talked-about—and least understood—skills in your career. In this episode, Lauren sits down with executive coach and co-author of The…
- Your Next Job Is Probably in Your Network—Here’s How to Strengthen It · 33 min · Episode 328Networking doesn’t have to feel awkward, transactional, or exhausting. In this episode, Lauren sits down with communications leader and author Monique Kelley to break down the…
- Is Your Debt Driving Your Career Decisions? How to Change That · 40 min · Episode 327Debt can quietly shape your confidence, boundaries, and career choices. In this episode, Lauren talks with Arden Missal, founder of She’s Financially Free, about how financial…
- Career Transition 101: Strategy, Mindset, and What to Do First · 29 min · Episode 326Thinking about a career change—but not sure where to start? In this episode, career transition expert Cara Bedick breaks down what it really takes to make a successful move—from…
- Why Aren’t People Responding to Your Emails? How to Write Messages Busy People Actually Read (Listener Favorite) · 35 min · Episode 325Even with social media, text, and DMs, email is still the best way to communicate and contact people who can help your career. Now we just need to make sure those emails are…
- Should You Become a Manager? How to Know If Leadership Is Right for You (Listener Favorite) · 39 min · Episode 324The truth is, that not everyone will enjoy managing people. But luckily, you don't have to become a manager to grow in your career. Leadership expert and author of Happy@Work…
- Is This Job the Wrong Fit? How to Know When a Role Is Right for You (Listener Favorite) · 35 min · Episode 323How do we make work, less work? Author and organizational psychologist Andrè Martin shares how to find your right-fit career. You’ll learn:What’s the difference between right fit…
- The Self-Promotion Problem: How to Advocate for Yourself Without Feeling Icky (Listener Favorite) · 36 min · Episode 322Nobody cares more about your career than you, so you need to make yourself and your achievements known. Embrace the skill of self-promotion. Career coach Lindsey Lathrop- Ryan is…
- When Work Becomes Your Whole Identity (and How to Take It Back) · 39 min · Episode 321Ever feel like work doesn’t end when you close your laptop? Psychologist and TED speaker Guy Winch joins Lauren to explain why work stress is so hard to switch off—and how to…
- 3 Toughest Leadership Problems— Solved · 37 min · Episode 320Leadership isn’t just about big wins—it’s about navigating pressure, tough decisions, and influence when things get messy. In this episode, leadership expert Dr. Katie Best…
- Why Are We Racing? How to Navigate The Modern Rat Race · 38 min · Episode 319Why are we racing—and who decided the pace? In this episode, Lauren sits down with UCLA Anderson career coaches Jenna Migliaccio and Jessica Christopher, co-founders of Glimmers…
- How to Design & Run Effective Meetings · 40 min · Episode 318Are your meetings driving results—or just draining your calendar? This week, Lauren sits down with organizational scientist and Your Best Meeting Ever author Dr. Rebecca Hinds to…
- Soft Incompetence: The Subtle Drain on Your Time & Energy · 34 min · Episode 317Ever feel like the default project manager at home or work? In this episode, Lauren sits down with Dr. Regina Lark to unpack soft incompetence—a subtle dynamic that quietly…
- 5 Communication Shifts That Transform How You Lead, Speak, and Sell · 34 min · Episode 316Communication isn’t just a soft skill—it’s the foundation of influence, trust, and leadership at work. In this episode, Ravi Rajani, author of Relationship Currency, breaks down…
- The New Career Path: Flexible Work, Blended Teams, and What’s Next · 33 min · Episode 315The way we work is changing—and it’s not going back. In this episode, we sit down with Brea Starmer, founder and CEO of Lions & Tigers, to break down the rise of blended teams…
- The Leadership Skill Most Likely to Derail Your Career, According to a Harvard Professor · 32 min · Episode 314Great leadership starts with managing yourself. Harvard professor Margaret C. Andrews shares why lack of self-awareness derails careers, how emotional intelligence shapes…
- How to Stop Worrying About Money · 32 min · Episode 313Money stress isn’t a personal failure—it’s a systems problem. In this episode, Lauren welcomes back Jesse Mecham, founder of You Need A Budget (YNAB), to unpack why so many…
- Laid Off? 3 Things to Do Immediately · 28 min · Episode 312Getting laid off can feel overwhelming—but knowing what to do next can make all the difference. Greg Lawson from California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) breaks down…
- 3 in 30: Marnie’s Entrepreneur Journey · 38 min · Episode 311In this episode, Lauren turns the mic on co-host Marnie Lemonik to unpack her journey from corporate professional to Career Coach.Marnie shares the behind-the-scenes story of how…
- Mid-Career and Losing Steam? Let’s Fix That · 33 min · Episode 310Feeling stuck in your career? You’re not alone. In this episode, Lauren talks with McKinsey senior partner and A CEO for All Seasons coauthor Carolyn Dewar about what to do when…
- Why Smart Teams Still Fail · 31 min · Episode 309What makes some teams thrive while others struggle? Leadership expert Dr. Vanessa Druskat joins Lauren to share why team success depends on emotional intelligence—not just…
- How to Manage in The AI Era · 33 min · Episode 308AI is transforming the way work gets done—but great leadership still comes down to people. In this episode of The Career Contessa Podcast, Lauren McGoodwin welcomes back Julie…
- Why We Click: How to Build Better Bonds at Work and in Life · 30 min · Episode 307Why do we instantly “click” with some coworkers and struggle with others? Journalist and bestselling author Kate Murphy discusses the emerging science of interpersonal…
- The Career Development Playbook: What To Do Each Quarter to Advance Your Career Year-Round · 29 min · Episode 306If you’ve ever started the year with big career goals—only to lose steam by spring—this episode is for you. Career coach Michelle Schafer shares her quarterly career playbook: a…
- How to Run a New Year Career Audit · 28 min · Episode 305Before you set another career goal, hit pause — it’s time for a career audit. Career coach and product marketing pro Saniya Waghray Tyagi shares how to reflect on the past year…
- 3 in 30: 2026 Workplace Predictions · 33 min · Episode 304In this episode, Lauren and Marnie break down three major workplace predictions for 2026, drawing from leading reports by Indeed, Forbes, and McKinsey. After a quick lookback on…
- 5 Steps to Stop Overthinking and Break the Cycle of Inaction in Your Career · 31 min · Episode 303We’re replaying one of our most popular episodes with courage coach and bestselling author Dr. Margie Warrell. If fear or self-doubt has ever held you back from making a career…
- 3 in 30: Ask Marnie Anything · 24 min · Episode 302In this solo 3 in 30 episode, career coach Marnie Lemonik answers listener questions across leadership, job searching, and workplace growth. From stepping into people management…
- Think Fast, Talk Smart: How to Communicate Confidently on the Spot · 28 min · Episode 301This holiday season, we’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes featuring communication expert Matt Abrahams. Learn how to stay calm, concise, and confident in spontaneous…
- Growth Mindset at Work: Overcome Fixed Thinking and Unlock Career Success · 39 min · Episode 300We’re replaying one of our most-loved episodes to close out the year. Career coach Kristin Evanson joins me to share how neuroscience can help you shift from a fixed mindset to a…
- 3 in 30: How to Prep for PTO and Actually Enjoy Your Vacation · 29 min · Episode 299In this episode, Lauren and career coach Marnie Lemonik are in full holiday prep mode—tackling the stress that often comes with taking paid time off. From the anxiety of…
