The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative, Inc. 

Newly recruited to lead our fundraising efforts to support the mission of advancing oral health equity in Connecticut. I take a relational approach to development, building genuine connections with donors, partners, and community members.

Development Manager

Journaling for Growth

Chief Journaling Officer

CT Library Consortium

Community builder for librarians. First to fill the role of Events & Special Projects Manager for statewide membership collaborative serving ~1,000 Connecticut libraries. 

Known for my personal brand of magic - creating spaces where members felt safe to learn and grow, turning nebulous ideas into concrete programs and services, and planning and executing events so fun they didn't feel like work - I helped members of our community feel seen, heard, and valued, and provided opportunities for them to build skills to better serve their communities. 

Known for being an innovative thinker who imagines creative solutions to problems, often anticipating needs before they arose, I instigated moving our Roundtable program virtual in early 2020, teaching members to use Zoom and modeled how to run an effective meeting. (Librarians went on to use what they learned here to put on programs for their own communities.)

I partnered with the Connecticut Storytelling Center to launch a storytelling training workshop series for librarians. I conceptualized and executed three different vendor expo models, all of which were wildly successful. And I established a new Program Directory to connect libraries with performers and workshop providers. 

I led the national Take Your Child to the Library Day initiative, serving as project manager, growing the program in visibility through projects such as the creation of both community-centric and librarian-centric websites, speaking at the Public Library Association Conference in April 2024, and publishing an article in Public Libraries Magazine in Summer 2024. I partnered with EveryLibrary to create Advocacy Training webinar series to build capacity among children's librarians, and established State Ambassador program to build support and visibility nationwide. I partnered with Demco to create a line of promotional products for TYCLD 2025.

Events and Special Projects Manager

Northwest Village School

I was selected as the first certified library media specialist at this therapeutic day school for special education students ages 4-21.  

Tasked with creating our library media program, I transformed a humble bookroom into a vibrant library ecosystem welcoming and accessible to students of all ages and our teachers and support staff. 

I implemented a new library automation software system, replacing the traditional card catalog, revamped our entire collection of materials, assessing gaps for each section and curating age-appropriate resources, and established new collections of both print and digital resources. 

As the designer of library, information and research, and technology skills curricula that I delivered to students, I was part of our teaching team, delivering instruction to students, facilitating professional development for teachers and support staff, and collaborated with teachers on technology integration and co-teaching classes. 

I created safe and welcoming spaces for all of our students, differentiating instruction, employing de-escalation strategies as needed, and building strong relationships with our learners and instructors. 

I had the joy of surprising and delighting students and staff by instituting school literacy events including annual Read Across America celebrations, coordinated external speakers, and introduced graphic novel collection (our most popular and widely circulated school collection).

Library Media Specialist

Avon Free Public Library

As part of our children's services team, I had the amazing privilege of supporting children and families who came to the library.

While on desk, I assisted children and families with navigation of library materials, equipment and resources; provided readers’ advisory services, connecting readers with engaging materials.

I executed original programming for children including reader’s theater workshops, family thank you letter writing, and thematic creative programs connected to the Amazing Castle™ installation. 

I partnered with Teen Librarian on Book Buddies program pairing elementary school students with middle and high school students to foster reading skills.

And I brought my skills from my experience at Northwest Village School to tactfully manage challenging patrons (i.e. high energy and or poor in-library behavior) resulting in reduction of risk behaviors in the library.

Children's Library Specialist

Self-Employed

Family Sabbatical

Ketchum

At Ketchum (formerly Capital Strategies), I worked with associations such as the North Carolina Economic Developers' Association and NC Go! on events (meetings, conferences, legislative days), editing newsletters, and providing member support. I helped develop communications plans for organizations such as Junior League of Raleigh.

Project Coordinator

Journaling is one of the simplest, most beneficial habits you can use to create the life you want to live. 

And yet something is keeping you from it. 

Whether you’re completely new to journaling and don’t know where to start, you’ve journaled some but not found what works for you yet, or you’re a seasoned journaler looking for new ways to infuse your journaling with energy to get the results you want, I can help. 

✍️Why work with me?
If you were going to do it on your own, you would have by now. The information is out there. But you haven’t figured out how to make it work for you yet. And that’s okay. I love getting to help folks just like you create journaling practices that help you reach your goals. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. We start with you, what you want to achieve, and find simple, sustainable ways to make it happen. 

✍️How to work together
If you need:
🌱A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT, check out my curated journal prompt collections through my Substack newsletter. At just $8/month, you’ll receive a daily journal prompt designed to help you get to know and love yourself a little bit better AND solve the problem of not knowing what to write about. (journalingforgrowth.substack.com)

🍀MORE SUPPORT, we'll work together to create your bespoke journaling practice that aligns with your personal growth journey. It’s all about you and what you need to grow. And it starts with a conversation. (tidycal.com/amandastern/strategy-call)

✨ Beyond Journaling—Event Planning & Community Building
Along with my passion for journaling, I bring years of experience as a community builder, event planner, and facilitator. I thrive on creating spaces where people can show up as their true, authentic selves and have real conversations that spark connection, growth, and impact. Whether it’s a small gathering or a large-scale event, I specialize in curating experiences that foster meaningful connections and create positive change. If your organization or mission-driven nonprofit needs someone to plan and facilitate events or build a thriving community, let's talk about how we can make it happen.

✍️ About Me
I’ve been journaling since I was an angsty teenager, and it's my go-to tool for learning and growth. I've used it to uncover what I truly want, make plans to go after it, hold myself accountable, and celebrate success, all while creating a life I don’t want a vacation from. When I’m not journaling, you can find me with my nose in a book, puttering in my garden, laughing with my family, and trying to decide what to make for dinner again tonight.

Amanda Stern ✍️

Ehsan Ali 🚀

Careerly360

Who do I help?

Senior IT professionals, Managers and Leaders who are feeling UNDERVALUED, UNFULFILLED or INSECURE.

You want to overcome one or more of these challenges:
① You've hit your income ceiling
② You get ignored for promotions
③ You do not feel respected at work
④ You're in the same job for many years
⑤ You’re not growing despite changing jobs
⑥ You're performing roles below your capability
⑦ You get good, but not outstanding performance review
⑧ You’ve lost job and facing challenges in landing the right role  
⑨ You don't feel inspired by your work, you do it just to pay bills

Book a 10-minute discovery call with me to find out IF and HOW I can help you -  https://calendly.com/coachehsan/discovery

Certified Master Career Coach

Empowering Indian Expats Podcast

Australia's 1st Business & Career podcast featuring inspiring stories of Indian Expats who either successfully transitioned into entrepreneurship or excelled in their careers beyond the perceived limitations and ceiling

Podcast Host & Producer

TCS Australia

	Led multiple high-profile client engagements (Commonwealth Bank, Colonial First State, CommInsure, Westpac, St George) and generated over $50 million.

	Became an expert in building zero-to-10-million-dollar revenue in 24 months flat.

	Built and led large global delivery teams from zero to up to 150.

	Led delivery teams across multiple service lines – Software Development, Service Delivery, Proprietary and Third-party software implementation & integration, Process Optimisation, Legacy Systems Modernisation, Regulatory Compliance, CRM, Marketing…

Enterprise Account Manager

HCL Australia

	Led transition of a large application portfolio – 108 Enterprise Systems - across all divisions of Commonwealth Bank.

	Contributed to defining the organisation wide ITIL based Service Delivery Framework

	Led a portfolio of small to medium size projects with a peak team size of 100

Program Manager

	Led a technology upgrade of Standard Chartered Bank’s payment internet channel with peak team size of 35 and a budget of $1.4 million 

	Recruited and trained 100+ professionals to deliver Standard Chartered Bank’s ambitious hi-tech projects

Senior Project Manager

iNautix Technologies

	Led multiple projects in stock trading back office for its parent companies (Credit Suisse First Boston, Pershing, Bank of New York)
	Led the setup of first global delivery team for Bank of New York at iNautix India

Project Lead and Consultant

Top-Ranked Australian Career Coach | Helped 100+ Senior IT Pros Land $200K–$400K+ Roles | 2–4 Level Jumps. 30%–120% Raises. | Take the 3-Min Quiz & Uncover Your Hidden Growth Blockers

You crushed the first half of your career (15–20 years).
You learned, progressed, got recognised.

Then the game changed.
You entered the second half, expecting momentum to continue.
Instead, you hit a wall:

➞ The next level feels out of reach
➞ Offers are lower than last year
➞ Even a like-for-like move is harder

What’s going on?

No one told you the second-half rules are different.
The 2010 playbook is outdated for 2025 and beyond.

So despite real credibility, you feel stuck.
Underpaid. Undervalued. Invisible.
Wondering, “Is this as far as I can go?”

I have been there.
22 years in IT. Leadership roles. $100M delivered.
Still hit a wall.

So I built the playbook I wish I’d had.

Fast forward 4 years:

120+ senior IT professionals have used my Value Amplifier Method™ to reach goals they thought were out of reach:

🚀 Tym, Senior Director: 18 months jobless → 2 offers over $300K in 8 weeks
🚀 Alka, Cyber Analyst: Burnt out → Big4 Director in 7 months; global thought leader in 12
🚀 Seema, IT PM: 11-year plateau → $100K raise and a career comeback
🚀 Urvish, S/W Engineer: Laid off → Senior Principal in 10 weeks. Director in 12 months

What changes with the Value Amplifier Method™?

➞ Raise your market value by 30%+ without new skills or certificates
➞ Repackage first-half wins to land bigger roles at the right companies

The 3 pillars:

1. Clarity - Focus where you’re premium, not replaceable
2. Communication - Tell a proof-first story leaders can’t ignore
3. Connection -  Build trusted access to decision-makers before jobs go public

You don’t need to be loud or extroverted. 
This works for introverts, migrants, late bloomers, and quiet high performers.

Worried the next year will look like the last?

Start by getting clear on what’s really holding you back.

Take the Growth Readiness Quiz — 1,200+ IT leaders already have.

- It's 100% free
- Takes just 2 minutes
- Get instant recommendations

👉 careerly360.scoreapp.com
.

Ehsan Ali

The Iron Bar Analogy That Transformed My Career

I once believed I was just another IT Manager.

Some skills.
Decent salary.
Doing fine.

But deep down?
I knew I wasn’t operating at my fullest potential.

I felt like raw material, waiting to be shaped by external circumstances.

Then I came across this analogy:

A bar of iron is worth $100.

- Turn it into horseshoes? $250
- Sewing needles? $70,000
- Watch springs? $6 million
- Laser components? $15 million

Same iron.
Same weight.
Same starting point.

The difference is what it becomes.
And the process it undergoes.

Our careers mirror this transformation.

Our value is determined by what we make of ourselves.

We all start with potential.​

But it’s: 
The shaping,
The refining,​
The evolving,​
The becoming,​

That changes everything.

This realization changed my life.
It helped me break free from career stagnation.

Now, I help others do the same.

Not by chasing titles.
but by unlocking their true potential.

So if you feel like raw material right now...

The version of you worth millions? It’s already in there.

You just haven’t shaped it yet.

It’s time to shape it. To become it.

What’s stopping you?

♻️ Repost to share with someone who needs this reminder.
🔔 Follow me (Ehsan Ali) for more insights on transforming your IT career.

Go-To Career Strategist for Ambitious Indian-Origin Senior IT Professionals | Break the Ceiling | Step Into $250K–$400K+ Director-Level Roles | 120+ senior career breakthroughs powered by Value Amplifier Method™

They didn’t quit the job.
They quit the leader who stopped helping them grow.

Leaders who don’t grow their top performers eventually lose them to better leaders.

Not because those employees were “entitled.”
Not because they were “impatient.”

But because they were ignored.

✅They solved problems that saved millions.
✅Stepped up in chaos.
✅Took on extra work.
✅Earned the certs.
✅Stayed late.

Their reward?
More work. Not more opportunity.

Every “Maybe next time” is another star quietly checking out.

Recognition without growth isn’t retention.
It’s resignation in slow motion.

And the numbers tell the truth:
→ 93% of professionals would stay if their company invested in their growth.
→ 82% would quit if stuck under poor management.

That’s not a coincidence.
That’s cause and effect.

I’ve coached dozens of IT pros who didn’t want to leave. They “had” to.
Not for money.
For meaning.

You can’t claim to “value your people” if your brightest minds feel unseen.
You can’t build loyalty on broken promises.
You can’t preach “employee engagement” then reward politics over performance.

Your top talent doesn’t crave applause.
They crave progression, purpose, and partnership.

I stayed too long.
Told myself “next time” for months.
Until I realized the only thing changing was my belief in what I deserved.

Leaders, this isn’t about retention strategies. It’s about awareness.
Because the truth is simple:
If you don’t build your people, you’ll lose them to someone who will.


♻ Repost this if you’ve watched great talent walk away because leadership didn’t get it.
🔔 Follow Ehsan for bold takes on leadership, growth, and what real career progression looks like.

Top-ranked Australian Career Coach | Helping Senior IT pros land $200K–$400K+ roles in ~90 days | 120+ client wins | Take the growth readiness quiz: uncover your real blockers

Leadership doesn’t fail in one big moment.
It fails in quiet ones.

The skipped recognition.
The misplaced promotion.
The loyalty that went unnoticed.

Promote the wrong people, and the cost isn’t poor performance.
It’s losing the ones who made performance possible.

Because loyalty doesn’t fade from laziness.
It fades when leaders reward noise over value.

I learned that the hard way.

Years ago, I worked with a team built on quiet excellence.
No politics. No drama. 
Just consistency anchored by one calm problem solver.

He never chased credit.
Never played games.
Just delivered. Every. Single. Time.

Then leadership made the classic mistake:
They rewarded the talker, not the doer.

The one who impressed in meetings got the promotion.
The one who performed under pressure got a thank-you note.

And just like that, the team’s pulse changed.
Energy dipped.
Deadlines dragged.
And that quiet star, the one who held everything together, began to fade.

One night, fixing another crisis someone else caused, he said:
“Ehsan, it’s hard to stay loyal when leadership stops rewarding loyalty.”

He left weeks later.
Not for money. For meaning.

That’s when it hit me:
You don’t lose your best people overnight.
You lose them one bad decision at a time.

Every promotion tells a story:
👉 Politics or performance?
👉 Visibility or substance?
👉 Noise or integrity?

Loyalty isn’t built through policies.
It’s built through perception.
Through the choices leaders make when no one’s watching.

Visibility isn’t the villain.
It’s the mirror showing what leaders choose to see.

When they reward the loudest instead of the loyal,
they don’t just lose trust.
They lose the foundation.

The quiet ones who kept it all together.

How long would you keep giving your best when leadership stops noticing?

♻️ Repost to remind leaders: Recognition isn’t noise, it’s nourishment.
🔔 Follow Ehsan Ali for real talk on leadership, loyalty, and building IT careers that outlast the noise.

Your LinkedIn Isn’t Broken.
It’s just built for the wrong era.

Your title? Doesn’t show your value.
Your About? Reads like a CV.
Your Experience? A job manual.
Featured? Weak or empty.
Recommendations? Missing or Empty praise.

❌ That’s why you’re invisible.
Not because you lack skill.
Not because you need more certifications.
But because your profile was built for 2010 job boards —
Not 2025 influence.

You’ve done everything they told you:
Worked hard. Delivered. Updated your resume.

But your LinkedIn?
Still a copy-paste of your past.

And LinkedIn isn’t a resume.
It’s your digital reputation.
Your first impression.
Your silent pitch.

Recruiters don’t read.
They scan.
10 seconds.
That’s all it takes to decide:
Next-level… or not worth the call.

❌ You don’t need a fancy banner.
❌ You don’t need to post daily.
❌ You don’t need to “build a brand.”

80% of results come from just two things:
Your Title and About.

Fix those — everything changes.

Take the 60-second LinkedIn Quiz → get the Makeover Kit → fix what’s keeping you invisible - in just 15 mins.

It’s the same system my clients used to:
✅ Get calls from Amazon, Atlassian, Accenture
✅ Go from invisible → headhunter magnet
✅ Get $250K+ offers — without adding a single skill

If your experience is real…
But your profile hides it?

📩 DM me FAST FIX
I’ll send you the quiz + full kit. Free (for now).

♻️ Repost if someone you know deserves more than being overlooked.
🔔 Follow Ehsan Ali for quiet strategies that unlock loud results.

7 LinkedIn Fixes That Make You Visible for 250K+ Roles

I thought my title made me safe.
It didn’t.

22 years in IT.
Massive projects. Huge teams. $100M delivered.

I thought that was my worth.
My role.
My project.
My title.

Then—
A new manager.
A cancelled program.
A restructure.

In weeks, everything I thought was “mine”… wasn’t.

That’s when it hit me:

Security was never in the title.
It was never in the company.
It was never in the team.

Real security lives in something no reorg can erase.
A mission that outlasts titles.
A purpose that pulls you forward when the org chart flips overnight.

I’ve watched 100+ IT pros go through this same free‑fall.
Some sank.
Some rose.

The ones who rose?

✅ Defined what drives them beyond titles
✅ Stayed curious about their deeper purpose
✅ Rebuilt around a mission, not just a paycheck

That’s the same shift I made.
And now, I guide others through it too.

So pause and ask yourself:
If your job vanished tomorrow, what would still pull you forward?

👍 If this landed, hit like
♻ Share with someone whose “safety” is too fragile
➕ Follow Ehsan Ali for career reinvention, IT leadership growth, and building $250K–$400K+ careers that last

You’re not asking for too much.
You’re just asking the wrong people.

They keep telling you:
“Be patient.”
“Be grateful.”
“Your time will come.”

It hasn’t.
It won’t.
And deep down, you know it won’t. Not there.

You stayed loyal.
They stayed blind.
You shrank.
They benefited.

But deep down?

You know you’ve outgrown them.
The title.
The team.
The culture.

But it’s not you that’s the problem.
It’s the room that stopped growing with you.

And it’s costing you more than a promotion.
It’s costing you belief.

Not in them.
In yourself.

If that’s where you are,
you don’t need more patience.
You need new people who see what you bring.

♻️ Repost this if you’ve ever questioned your standards.
🔔 Follow Ehsan Ali for career clarity that doesn’t shrink you.

The 4 Channels of Job Hunting — and How to Activate Each

If your whole job search depends on online applications, you’re playing the weakest game.

Less than 20% of senior roles are filled through job boards.
The other 80%? They move through networks, referrals, and visibility.

If you’re serious about your career, you need all four channels firing together:

1️⃣ Online Applications – play it smart, not wide. Tailored positioning, not 100 clicks.
2️⃣ Warm Intros – the hidden goldmine. One trusted recommendation beats 50 cold resumes.
3️⃣ Cold Outreach – thoughtful, relevant messages that start conversations (not beg for jobs).
4️⃣ Inbound – when your LinkedIn, story, and visibility do the heavy lifting for you.

Most professionals use one channel badly.
Top performers master all four.

I just wrote a short guide showing what 10/10 execution looks like for each —
and how to activate them strategically, step by step.

DM CHANNELS and I’ll send it to you.

♻️ Repost to help more professionals stop playing the weakest job search game.
🔔 Follow me, Ehsan Ali, for frameworks that make career moves strategic, not lucky.

taplio

The Battle

Amanda Stern ✍️

Ehsan Ali

Followers

Posts

Engagements

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The Battle

Amanda Stern ✍️

Ehsan Ali

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ehsan Ali's LinkedIn Performance

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