My mission is to help executives and C-Suite leaders become more visible.

I'm a nationally recognized voice in executive resumes, LinkedIn, career, and job search strategy for workers who are 50 and over, cited as an industry expert by Fast Company, Forbes, CNBC, Business Insider, CBS News, Yahoo Finance, LinkedIn News, and FlexJobs. 

As a former engineer and senior analyst for Fortune 500 leaders Procter & Gamble and FedEx, I bring a data-driven approach to today’s most pressing market challenges. Since launching my business in 2006, I’ve partnered with major media outlets and job search platforms including The Motley Fool and Glassdoor to deliver actionable insights to broad audiences. 

Today, I've built an engaged LinkedIn following of 90,000+ with 40+ million views on my content since 2023. I’m known as a trusted advisor on age inclusion, with a dual mission: to help executives position themselves for their next great role and to help organizations engage and retain the 50+ workforce.

I offer:
* Executive resumes, executive bios, and LinkedIn profile upgrades
* LinkedIn strategies for small businesses and executives
* Best practices on fighting ageism, workforce trends, and job search strategies
* Presentations/webinars on age inclusion, LinkedIn, and resume best practices

Collaborations include:
* The ABplatform (advisory board member)
* Randstad RiseSmart (career coaching/outplacement)
* CEO Connection (board strategy for mid-market CEOs)
* Glassdoor (career expert/content creator)
* Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA admissions (reader/interviewer)

Colleen Paulson

If you're making $250,000, a 5% raise is $12,500.
After taxes? Closer to $7,500.

With inflation, it won't meaningfully change your lifestyle, but it's just enough to feel "fair."

And for many companies, it’s a rounding error.

That's why the "peanut butter raises" trend is so interesting to me: moving away from merit-based increases and toward flat raises across the board.

I ran a poll on this 2 weeks ago.
1,400+ of you voted.

Only 9% expect a raise above 5%.
59% expect 0–2%.
32% expect 3–5%.

That’s not a long-term retention strategy.

As I shared with CNBC: Companies may not feel the impact of “peanut butter” raises right now - especially in a slow hiring market. But market's shift and people will remember how you treated them.

Top performers always know their market value.
The best ones won’t wait around.

When the market shifts, top talent will have options.
And they'll remember who valued them.

My advice for companies: Don't confuse a tough job market with loyalty. And don't mistake retention for satisfaction. I'm talking with so many folks who are "job hugging" but will move quickly when the right opportunity comes along.

And for executives feeling undervalued: Keep building your visibility. Keep tracking your wins. Keep your network warm.

Your value doesn’t change because the market is tight.
The right opportunity will recognize it.

Linda Kirk

LINDA KIRK, LLC

𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗦
Age Inclusion Advocate | Communication Strategist | Self-Advocacy Leader

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗖
Job seekers, applicants, candidates, and employees 40+, 50+, and 60+.

𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦
Check out my Writing/Design Portfolio or Featured section of my profile for samples of my work. I write about:
• Self-Advocacy: Overcoming Hiring and Workplace Challenges.
• Civil Rights: Age Discrimination in Hiring and the Workplace.
• AI and Algorithmic Age Discrimination.
• Societal Ageism.
• Health & Wellness.
• Personal Branding.
• Positivity.

𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥
Age Inclusion Advocacy | Business/Lifestyle Topics and Trends from the 40+, 50+, and 60+ PERSPECTIVE.

𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥
Creator/Author of published monthly infotainment comic strip, entitled: "EXCUSE ME...YOUR BIAS IS SHOWING." The comic is told from the perspective of 40+50+60+ job seekers and employees who encounter hiring and workplace discrimination based on age.

Authored Family Cookbook: 75 family favorites of my recipes over the years; conducted photo shoots of prepped and plated food; prepped and plated photographs,150 images; additional personal photos, 25 images; 155 pages; project took 18 months to complete; all work done in-house; ROI: PRICELESS.

𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚/𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗦
Linda Kirk Writing/Design Portfolio (temporary hosting site until website launch).

𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘
Currently under construction. 
Website: lindakirk.com

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
Continue sharpening skill sets related to: age-related industry trends and legislation; technology; digital marketing; coaching and consulting techniques; Human Resources; graphic design; website design; video editing.

Founder & CEO | Age Inclusion Advocate | Communication Strategist | Self-Advocacy Leader

Self-Employed

FREELANCE CONTENT: Storytelling | Articles | Memes | Comic Strips

Professional Writer

Retail and Hotel

Hotel Guest Services Specialist, Holiday Inn, Christiansburg (9/19 to 3/20) • Customer Sales and Service Trainer, Kroger, Blacksburg (9/14 to 9/19)) • Business Development Specialist, Cartridge World, Fredericksburg (2/12 to 2/14) • Chose permanent, part-time jobs during this time frame to attend to medical procedures following an accident • Further enhanced skill set • Cleared 100% to return to full-time work in July 2020.

Business Development Specialist and Customer Sales and Service Trainer 

Marriott International

Corporate Headquarters, Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Office, On-Property Sales Offices and Remote.
•  Major Washington Metropolitan Area convention hotel representation included, but not limited to: The Mayflower Hotel; Renaissance Washington DC; JW Marriott Washington, DC; Marriott Wardman Park; Washington Marriott at Metro Center; Crystal Gateway Marriott; Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles; Falls Church Fairview Park Marriott; The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City; The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner.
•  Market: National Associations, Corporate and Federal Government. 
•  Territory: Washington, DC Metropolitan Area.
•  Groups: National Associations, Corporate and Federal Government group business (100+ rooms on peak night);
•  Achievements listed in "Organizations" section.

Area Account Executive - Mid-Atlantic

Self Employed

•  Planned local meetings and events in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area; 
•  Project, logistics and on-site manager.

Meeting Planner and Event Consultant

Park Inn

159 guest rooms and kitchenettes.
•  Market: Tour and travel, business transient, government, leisure, extended stay and events;
•  Territory: Local, state, national and international;
•  Groups: Small meetings and social events;
•  Achievements listed in "Organizations" section.

Director of Sales and Marketing

Howard Johnsons Hotel

280 guest rooms and suites.
•  Market: Tour and travel, business transient, government, leisure and events;
•  Territory: Local, state, national and international;
•  Groups: Small meetings and social events;
•  Achievements listed in "Organizations" section.

Conference Management Systems

Housing and registration destination management company (DMC) based in Chicago, Illinois - Washington, DC Office. 
•  Market: National Associations; 
•  Territory: Washington DC Metropolitan Area;
•  Groups: Annual conventions, trade shows, conferences and meetings;
•  Achievements listed in "Organizations" section.

Regional Director of Sales and Marketing

Visit Tampa Bay

Convention and visitors bureau for the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida - Washington, DC Office. Formerly known as the Tampa/Hillsborough Convention and Visitors Authority. The DC office, which I opened and managed, was located within Destinations International Headquarters.
•  Market:   Washington Metropolitan Area National Associations;
•  Territory: Washington, DC Metropolitan Area;
•  Groups:   Citywide conventions, trade shows, conferences and meetings (from 500 rooms peak night);
•  Achievements listed in "Organizations" section.

National Sales and Marketing Director

Choose Chicago

Convention and visitors bureau for the City of Chicago, Illinois - Washington, DC Office. Formerly known as the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.
•  Market: National Associations and the Federal Government;
•  Territory: Washington, DC Metropolitan Area and the Southeast from Virginia to Florida;
•  Groups: Citywide conventions, trade shows, conferences and meetings; Federal Government conferences and meetings (from 500-5,000+ peak night);
•  Achievements listed in "Organizations" section.

National Convention Sales Director

As an age inclusion advocate, communication strategist, and self-advocacy leader, I help empower job seekers and employees, 40+50+60+, to rise and conquer challenges in hiring and the workplace connected to age discrimination.

𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦 - 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗢𝗢𝗡
I will be offering a selection of specialty services + solutions + resources. *

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗬
My career has spanned over 40 years, with more than 30 years spent in Washington, DC. I began my career in government and legislative affairs, where I gained valuable experience in strategic diplomatic communication and collaboration. Later, I worked in executive marketing and sales leadership positions for leading destination marketing organizations and global hotel corporations. During that time, I played an instrumental role in negotiating and closing high-value complex business deals, contributing to millions of dollars in revenue and economic impact across the US.

Throughout my career, I have worked in diverse industry sectors, including Fortune 100/500 HQs, associations, law firms, hospitality, grocery, retail, and automotive. I have developed a keen insight into various workplace cultures, which has helped me in my professional journey.

Additionally, I am highly creative as a professional writer, storyteller, content designer, and brand strategist. This added dimension to my skill set enables me to connect with and inspire others.

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗬
Throughout my early years, I experienced over a dozen family relocations across three different countries, all before the age of 18. This instilled within me an unwavering sense of resilience, tenacity, and grit, all bolstered by a positive, perseverant, and adaptable mindset.

My considerable travels across the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean contribute to my cultural diversity proficiency.

I recently celebrated two significant personal milestones: my 71st birthday and 23 years of continued sobriety. 

Over the years, I have successfully overcome numerous significant challenges in the business world, including harassment, sex discrimination, the glass ceiling, and age discrimination. I achieved this through my stellar strategic communication skills and legislative background, perfected in Washington, DC.

Life is full of challenges. How we rise, conquer, and triumph over challenges makes all the difference.

Born: UK. Raised: Canada. Reside: US.

YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.
YES, YOU CAN!

📱LET'S CONNECT!
____
*I am not an attorney, and I do not dispense legal advice.

Founder & CEO | Indie Creator | Strategic Communications Expert

𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗦
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT - Strategic Communications | Marketing Communications | Brand Strategy, Branding, and Brand Messaging | Content Creator.
FREELANCE CONTENT - WRITTEN: Long-Form | Storytelling | Short-Form | Copywriting | Landing Pages | Infotainment.
FREELANCE CONTENT – CONTENT DESIGN: Brand Strategy | Content Creation
Services provided to individuals, businesses, groups, grassroots movements, and organizations.

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗖
People 40+, 50+, and 60+.

𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦
Check out my Writing/Design Portfolio or Featured section in my profile for samples of my work. I write about:
• Civil Rights: Age Discrimination - Hiring/Workplace. 
• Societal Ageism.
• Advocacy Through Positivity.
• Lifestyle, Health & Wellness.
• Personal & Business Branding.

𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥
Age Inclusion Advocacy | Business/Lifestyle Topics and Trends from the 40+, 50+, and 60+ PERSPECTIVE.

𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥
Authored Family Cookbook: 75 family favorites of my recipes over the years; conducted photo shoots of prepped and plated food; prepped and plated photographs,150 images; additional personal photos, 25 images; 155 pages; project took 18 months to complete; all work done in-house; ROI: PRICELESS.

𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚/𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗦
Linda Kirk Writing/Design Portfolio (temporary hosting site until website launch).

𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘
Currently under construction. 
Website: lindakirk.co
Tentative launch date: Fall 2023.

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
Continue sharpening skill sets related to: industry trends; technology; digital marketing; social media marketing; SEO fundamentals; Human Resources; Graphic Design-Canva Pro; website design; video editing.

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The Battle

Colleen Paulson

Linda Kirk, CPCC, CPLC, CPLC-CBT

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The Battle

Colleen Paulson

Linda Kirk, CPCC, CPLC, CPLC-CBT

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);}Colleen Paulson's LinkedIn Performance

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