Finding Brave

Does your resume tell the best and most compelling version of your professional accomplishments and story? Joining our show today is top-ranked Executive Resume Writer and Coach, Sarah Johnston, founder of the Briefcase Coach. Sarah is recognized as a LinkedIn “Top Voice” and named one of HR Weekly’s Top 100 Most Influential People in HR and her firm was rated “best” for experienced executives by Balance Careers. A former corporate recruiter and industry insider, Sarah is committed to empowering high-achieving professionals around the world in their job search. During this candid, revealing conversation, Sarah shares her hard-earned wisdom on the biggest mistakes she sees people making when crafting their resumes, and what you can do instead. Sarah also shares insights on how resume content should differ from our LinkedIn profiles and the most common resume and LinkedIn mistakes she's encountered. We discuss why relying solely on keywords isn't enough, how networking is evolving, how to effectively disclose g

What if the secret to standing out and achieving unmatched success was about doing less, not more? Today, we’re joined by former corporate CEO turned professional pot-stirrer, Erin Hatzikostas, to explore how her 50% Rule can help you throw out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own by embracing authenticity in bold and unexpected ways! Erin is a global keynote speaker, author, co-host of the podcast, b Cause Work Doesn’t Have to Suck, and coach-consultant. With two books under her belt, including the recently released The 50% Rule, Erin shares what it truly means to be authentic and how it can become your strategic edge. In this episode, she reveals the data-driven benefits of authenticity in the workplace, how something as simple as your out-of-office notification can spark authenticity, and why the 50% Rule is both an authenticity hack and the formula for transforming from underdog to unmatched success without working harder, doing more, or being better. You’ll walk away with actiona

If you could never work in your chosen career again, would you be relieved, or would you be disappointed? Dr. Tessa West is a Professor of Psychology at New York University, a leading expert on the science of social relationships, and a researcher focusing on how to improve communication between employees, bosses, and hiring professionals. She regularly contributes to the The Wall Street Journal among other noted publications. She is the author of two books, Jerks at Work which she talked about on her first visit to Finding Brave , and most recently, Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You which focuses on finding out and understanding the psychological source of your unhappiness at work and then taking a series of carefully orchestrated steps to find a career with long-term staying power. During this rich conversation, Tessa shares key insights from Job Therapy. To kick off our discussion, we explore what it might look like to reframe your career by thinking of it as you would a romantic relationship

Do you have a story that can change the world? Bobby Umar, a 5x TEDx Speaker and Inc Magazine Top 100 Leadership Speaker, believes you do. With over 20 years of experience delivering powerful keynotes across four continents, Bobby is a master at helping individuals unlock their potential through authentic connection and heart-based leadership. Bobby is the founder of the Thought Leadership Branding Club, and his influence in the arenas of networking, social media, and personal branding is inspiring. Through his guidance, thousands of individuals have harnessed their true potential to achieve lasting impact in their professional and personal lives. In this episode, Bobby shares the biggest obstacles people face when trying to land a TEDx talk and how we can best tackle this challenge. He outlines the key steps to securing a TEDx stage, emphasizing the importance of having the right topic, idea, title, and application. Bobby believes each of us has a unique story and experience with the potential to impact liv

Modern life bombards us with stresses our bodies are not physically equipped (or evolved) to handle. It’s no wonder so many of us are overwhelmed and struggling. Luckily, there are effective strategies and tools to help manage and reduce stress. You just need to learn how to tap into them. Here today to help us better navigate life’s stressors is Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, an internationally acclaimed speaker and resiliency expert. With over 18 years of experience in education and psychology, Dr. Robyne is renowned for her transformative approach to stress management and personal wellness. She is also the award-winning author of Calm Within the Storm: A Pathway to Everyday Resiliency and her new book, Stress Wisely: How to Be Well in an Unwell World. In today’s conversation, you’ll hear Robyne share her expert insights as we delve into practical methods for building resilience and finding balance amidst the chaos. We discuss the five pillars of resilience, from belonging and acceptance to hope and humor, be

Do you ever get the sinking feeling that, no matter how hard you work or what you do, it’s never enough? Our culture is stuck in an old paradigm that views success as a destination rather than a journey, attainable by only the lucky few at the top. But what if there was another way? For insight into her “new paradigm of success,” we are joined by Brooke Taylor, a Transformational Career Coach for women, former Marketing Lead at Google, and global expert in a phenomenon she has coined the Success Wound, which is the pain high-achievers experience when they mistake their success for self-worth. In this episode, Brooke breaks down some of the most common misconceptions that high-achievers have about success and shares her game-changing methodology to create a powerfully aligned life on your own terms and transform your relationship with success forever. Tuning in, you’ll learn about the five types of unfulfilled achievers, how your Success Wound might be driving your “success ideal,” and actionable steps you can

One in five people is estimated to be neurodivergent, yet efforts to achieve large-scale neuroinclusion in the workplace have largely failed due to superficial “check-the-box” strategies. Cognitive scientist, author, board director, business leader, and neurodivergent employer Dr. Maureen Dunne knows from lived experience and extensive research that we can harness the power of neurodiverse talent to help organizations build thriving cultures. Her national bestselling book, The Neurodiversity Edge, introduces a transformative framework for addressing “the most important human resources opportunity of the 21st century.” As you’ll discover in today’s episode, creating a neuroinclusive workplace isn't just the right thing to do; it can also be a massive competitive advantage. Join us as Maureen highlights common misunderstandings about neuroinclusion and explains why we need to break free from society’s neurotypical script to embrace the strengths of brains that work differently. She also reveals how organization

Do you want to reconnect with yourself and fully reclaim your power? Intentionality might be the key. To guide you on this healing and transformative journey, we welcome Finnian Kelly, the founder of Intentionality Inc., a sought-after speaker and executive coach, a leading breathwork facilitator, and the author of Intentionality: A Groundbreaking Guide to Breath, Consciousness, and Radical Self-Transformation. Known as the “Business Mystic,” Finnian helps world-changing leaders use his unique Intentionality methodology to achieve new levels of fulfillment, growth, and consciousness in their creative endeavors, relationships, and overall wellbeing. Drawing from his experiences of creating and selling multimillion-dollar companies and overcoming personal upheavals, Finnian shares his step-by-step process for manifesting Intentionality into success. Join us as we explore the practice of recoding to invest in positive loops over negative ones, the role of choice in Finnian’s definition of intentionality, and the

How do you get people to buy what you’re selling? In this episode of Finding Brave, marketing consultant and behavioral expert Leslie Zane reveals why traditional persuasion tactics often fall short when growing a business, selling an idea, or building your personal brand. Leslie is an award-winning marketer, TEDx speaker, the Founder and CEO of the behavioral science-based firm, Triggers Brand Consulting, and the author of the groundbreaking new book, The Power of Instinct: The New Rules of Business and Persuasion. Tuning in, you’ll learn to challenge conventional wisdom in business and brand building, rethink outdated rules that assume the conscious mind drives our decisions, and discover how to work with the hidden mind rather than against it. Leslie also uncovers the messages that create the most positive associations, explains why relying on existing customers is a trap, and discusses why emotional stories aren’t enough to drive long-term brand loyalty, plus so much more! If you want to tap into the hidd

Building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace is more than just a reflection of societal values; it’s a strategic necessity that fuels innovation, enhances talent retention, and ensures long-term business success in a competitive global market. Today’s guest, Sable Lomax, is a seasoned global DEI expert, consultant, speaker, and facilitator who joins us to share her experience in helping organizations across a wide range of sectors to supercharge their DEI initiatives. With a rich background in facilitating DEI sessions for nonprofit, philanthropic, public multinational, and private companies, Sable partners with stakeholders to develop strategic plans, implement new learning and development programming, and design equitable initiatives that make a real impact. In this episode, you'll find out why DEI isn't just the responsibility of HR professionals (even though many organizations and C-Suite leaders believe so) but a crucial element for building healthy, resilient organizations. Sable also highligh

Why is it so hard for many of us to ask the right questions and make the right choices? As the co-CEO of Transcend, a nationally recognized innovation organization, and today’s guest, Jeff Wetzler has leveraged his expertise in learning and human potential to develop a game-changing approach to smarter decisions, more creative solutions, and deeper relationships by asking different kinds of questions that unlock possibility and connection. Through a five-step process, Jeff teaches how to ask the right questions to create personal and professional growth. He joins us today to talk about his new book, ASK: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life, and to share his personal journey to asking, learning, and connecting more deeply. Tune in as we dive deep into the psychology of what prevents us from asking and sharing honestly, including shame and safety. Using curiosity as an entry point, we explore different contexts for asking questions before diving

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers!   Please note: This is a special rerun of Episode 130. “You are not your past. You are all of it, your past, present, and future. So do the work to release the shame, the humiliation, and the negative judgments you have about yourself. Release yourself.” – Kathy Caprino Over the past several years on Finding Brave, I’ve offered some key information about what I’ve observed are the 7 most damaging power and confidence gaps along with key chapters from my latest book, The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths to Career Bliss. Some time back, I offered a series of 7 podcasts dedicated to these gaps that negatively impact 98% of professional women today, and 90% of men, preventing them from reaching their highest potential, and their happiest, most rewarding success and fulfillment. In this 7th installment of that series, I share the power gap that may be closest to my own heart and soul. I’m talking about h

During this episode, Dr. Judy Ho joins us to unpack key concepts from her newly published book, The New Rules of Attachment. Judy isa triple board-certified and licensed clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, a tenured associate professor at Pepperdine University, television and podcast host, and published author. Among her numerous professional pursuits, she conducts neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic evaluations, serves as an expert witness in legal cases, conducts clinical research, provides expert commentary to media, and is a sought-after public speaker. Join us as we unpack the four attachment styles, and learn how they are formed and ways in which they influence the quality of our relationships and our lives. Judy also shares key key information about how we can begin to unravel the early experiences that have shaped our core beliefs and relational patterns today. As Judy shares: “If you don’t go into the past to understand why you formed these patterns in the first place, you’re just going to

Today, we’re delighted to welcome back return guest, Austin Belcak, who joined us way back on episode five to talk about how to land a dream job at the salary you deserve, as well on episode 89 where he shared his insights on building an exceptional resume that gets real results. Through his personal experiences, Austin has developed a uniquely effective job search system that helped him go from being a new grad with a biology degree (and a job in healthcare) to landing interviews at multiple tech companies, including Microsoft, where he ended up working for over five years and was promoted multiple times. Austin is the founder of Cultivated Culture, where he helps people secure jobs they’re passionate about, without relying on the need for traditional experience or online applications. The platform is a hugely valuable resource for job seekers and offers multiple free tools, including a resume builder and analyzer. He also hosts The Dream Job System Podcast where he shares bite-sized, highly actionable car

Interviews can undoubtedly be daunting and intimidating, but they also present a thrilling sense of potential and promise. After all, one interview can change the course of your life. So, how do you bring your best self to an interview, regardless of which side of the table you find yourself on? Joining us today to share her keen insights on all things interviewing is Anna Papalia, CEO of Interviewology, and author of Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing. Anna has a deep and abiding passion for the interviewing process, and has spent the better part of her career studying, researching, and teaching the key tenets of interviewing. She has consulted with multiple Fortune 100 companies, coached over 10,000 clients on how to master interviews, and taught at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Anna is also a career influencer; with over 1.5 million followers on social media, she is using her platform to educate, inspire, and transform the lives of job seekers and hiring managers one post at a t

Watching people and observing their behaviors is fascinating for many reasons. Yes, it’s fun, but it can also be very revealing. To learn more about what the behavior and communication of others can tell you about them, we are joined by renowned author, retired FBI agent, and keynote speaker, Robin Dreeke. With a distinguished career that includes serving as the Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, Robin has honed his ability to navigate complex social dynamics and build unbreakable alliances based on trust. Recognizing the vital role trust plays in business success, he has dedicated himself to helping organizations cultivate trust, enhance communication, and foster strong relationships within their teams and with their clients. Today, Robin returns to the show to discuss all things communication, particularly what people’s behavior reveals about what you can expect from them. Tuning in, you’ll learn about the power of asking ‘what?’ questions to find out why someone inspires you, how

As many of us are seeing and experiencing firsthand, we’re living in a time of divisive politics and widespread conflict. While these conditions present difficult challenges, it’s also an opportunity for growth if we can find the courage and strength to engage in a new way. This is the belief of today’s inspiring guest, William Ury, who has dedicated his life to transforming conflicts from destructive impulses into opportunities for collaboration and growth. William is a renowned negotiator, anthropologist, and bestselling author whose insights and expertise have reshaped the way we approach conflict resolution. Among other top books he’s written, he is the co-author of  Getting to Yes, the world’s all-time bestselling book on negotiation with more than 15 million copies sold. William has served as a negotiator in many of the most challenging disputes of our time, having consulted for the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon, as well as dozens of Fortune 500 companies. He is also the co-founde

We are joined today by Hope Paterson, a global nomad, mother of two, education innovation specialist, and transformation coach. For two decades, Hope has been developing what she calls the Hope triangle: electrifying pathways for humans of all ages working at the intersection of education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. As a coach Hope is steadfast and supportive, walking alongside others as they move from old to new. She is also the founder of Hope Braintrust, a global think tank that hosts live events and collaborations. Her growing online network, the Hope Sparks Network, is a vibrant intergenerational community where people of all ages can connect to share their knowledge and experience. In today’s conversation with Hope, we learn how to embrace more bravery in our lives before delving into the concept of finding intergenerational allies. She shares how she first learned to flex her bravery muscles as a young girl, how her many years as an entrepreneur helped her build a network of brilliant individ

Fatimah Gilliam is an author, lawyer, sought-after speaker, consultant, and founder of The Azara Group, a consulting firm that provides diversity and inclusion, leadership development, negotiation, and strategy consulting services to Fortune 500 corporations, senior executives leading billion-dollar businesses, and industry thought leaders. Her groundbreaking book, Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won't Tell You, is a practical manual of the unwritten rules that can help readers navigate today’s racially polarized world. In short, it’s a ‘how-to’ manual for white people to be less racially offensive; enabling them to develop stronger and more respectful cross-racial friendships and professional relationships with people of color. Today, Fatimah joins us as “white America’s Black friend” to tell us what others won’t say to our faces nor share about perspectives of color on white behaviors, choices, and interactions. She shares deep, transformative insights from her book, which seeks to open the door to persp

It’s been proven that playing competitive sports continues to contribute significantly to the success and leadership growth that women experience in later life and in their careers. Joining me to share her first-hand insights and key observations from her own career and from recent important research on this topic, is Lara Abrash, Chair of Deloitte US, the largest professional services organization in the United States. Originally drawn in by Deloitte’s social impact contributions, Lara began her time with the company 30 years ago, having held various leadership positions including Chair and Chief Executive Officer at Deloitte and Touche LLP. Working alongside over 170,000 professionals, Lara leads the Board of Directors with a purpose-driven mission to see diversity and inclusion at every level. To kick off the conversation, we dive into Deloitte’s pivotal study on the relationship between girls and women in competitive sports and leadership in the workplace later on in life. Lara shares her own experiences