Jean Kang

Path to PM

"Jean isn’t a program manager coach solely because she’s done the role. She’s a coach because she’s done both the role AND gone the extra mile to document what she’s researched and learned masterfully. 

“Jean’s the real deal, and I couldn’t recommend her more to someone questioning how to take the next step in their career."

Founder & CEO

LinkedIn

Instructor profile: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/jean-kang

LinkedIn Learning Instructor 

Business Insider

Contributing Writer

Figma

Focus on leadership strategy and helping Product Support operate with even greater agility, clarity and cohesion

Strategic Program Manager

First Program Manager on Product Support, leading some of our most strategic organizational and company initiatives in partnership with cross-functional leaders across Legal, Product and Eng, Marketing, Comm, and Security

Senior Program Manager

CX GTM program manager responsible for how CS goes to market with Product through scaled enablement such as training, communication, and playbooks for 200+ CSMs globally across 11 offices.

Global GTM Enablement Program Manager

Chief of Staff, Women at Linkedin

UN Women

Board Member

Pinterest

Advertiser Ops & Strategy

Facebook

Client Solutions Manager

Intuit

SMB Sales

✨ PM Career Coach, x7 pivoter, helping other pivoters land amazing Program Manager roles and 🔥 thrive on the job | Founder of 🚀 Path to PM | Senior Program Manager @ Figma • Ex-Linkedin, Meta, Pinterest, Intuit

Over the last decade, I led impactful programs at companies like LinkedIn, Pinterest, & Figma.

But here’s the part that surprises people:

- I didn’t have a PMP certification.
- I’m a proud career pivoter. 
- I didn’t check every box.

What I did have was strategy, storytelling, and a clear sense of how to articulate my value.

That’s how I landed multiple 6-figure Program Manager roles at top tech companies not by following the “traditional” path, but by leaning into my superpowers. 

Eventually, I had a spark to do something different..

What if I used the same skills that helped me thrive in Big Tech… to build something of my own?

So I left to bet on myself (again). 

And what served me well in my career also helped me as a solopreneur.

I owned my story, built with intention and shared learnings in public.

I started creating content in 2023 and in 2 years, built a community of 350K+ across LinkedIn, Instagram, and my newsletter.

Today, I’m the founder of the PM Accelerator, a career transformation program where I help senior professionals land high-paying PM roles without another certification or starting over. 

My mission is to democratize access to tech careers + empower folks to design a career, business & life they love especially in this era of AI.

The Results:

→ Partnered with Google, Hubspot, NVIDIA, Adobe, Kajabi, Notion, & more
→ LinkedIn Learning Instructor with 200K+ learners
→ 100M+ impressions over the last year
→ 230K+ follow my journey on LinkedIn
→ Built a $200K+ business in 1 year 
→ 32K+ read my newsletter 
→ (soon TEDx speaker 😱)

If you want to learn the exact framework I used to land dream PM roles + help others do the same… 

📌 APPLY TO THE PM ACCELERATOR (link in bio)

In this 5-week career acceleration program, I teach you how to get interviews, land dream offers and literally thrive on the job.  

I helped 100+ students land PM roles at Microsoft, SoFi, Scale.AI, Adidas, Workday and more (many in under 4–7 weeks)

→ GO HERE: pm-accelerator.com 

📧 jean@jean-kang.com for partnerships, collaborations, and speaking opportunities

📌 Media kit: jean-kang.com

Imposter syndrome is a silent killer.

5 tips to beat it (and change your life 🔥)

—
☝🏼 Step 1: Recognize Your Fixed Mindset

Negative self-talk sounds like:

↳ “I’m not good enough.”
↳ “I always mess up.”
↳ “I’m too quiet.”

These aren’t facts—they are negative thoughts. Recognizing them is the first step.

—
✌🏼 Step 2: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Growth lives outside your comfort zone.

↳ Want to improve public speaking? Say yes to that presentation.
↳ Want to become a program manager? Raise your hand to lead that project.
↳ Want to create content? Start posting 3x a week.

The more you stretch, the more you grow.

—
🤟🏼 Step 3: Seek Meaningful Feedback

Feedback starts with you.

↳ Do a weekly retro: What worked? What didn’t? What’s next?
↳ Ask colleagues or friends: What should I do more of? Less of?

Feedback is a gift for growth.

—
🖖🏼 Step 4: Detach Your Self-Worth From Work

You are more than your job.

Grow in areas that align with your values:

↳ Nurture relationships.
↳ Pursue passion projects.
↳ Volunteer or give back.
↳ Prioritize hobbies that bring joy.

—
🖐🏼 Step 5: Add “…Yet” to Reframe

Turn self-doubt into self-belief with one word: “Yet.”

↳ “I’m not a great leader…yet.”
↳ “I’m not in my dream job…yet.”
↳ “I’m not a skilled writer…yet.”

If you can’t beat fear, just do it scared. If not you, then who?

What’s ONE step you can take today? 👇🏼

📌 P.S. And if you're into actionable tips, try out my newsletter.

I talk about leveling up your 9-to-5, building a fulfilling side hustle, and designing a life on your terms.

https://lnkd.in/gc2mu4yK

Repost to inspire someone who needs to hear it & follow Jean Kang for more 🙏🏼

Tech Creator (400k+) with 8M+ monthly views | Ex-LinkedIn, Meta, Figma | Solopreneur, TEDx Speaker & Angel Investor helping you thrive at work using AI

Stop telling yourself you’re not qualified, good enough, or worthy.

Growth happens when you start 
doing the things you’re not qualified 
to do.

Remote work changed my life.

More rest. Less stress.

And it works for most people:

Individuals, parents, caretakers, pet owners 🐶, or anyone in between.

WFH doesn’t just stand for:

Work. From. Home.

It also means:

- Work 💻
- Family 🙏🏼
- Health 🧘🏻‍♀️

It’s about flexibility and choice.

And with tools like Tango I’ve never been more productive.

Love how easy they made it to learn new processes and train employees efficiently (without being in the office).

Don’t believe me?

I made this quick tutorial on how to find 6-figure REMOTE jobs on LinkedIn

(it took 2 minutes)

The goal is to teach it once and never explain again 😱

👀 Find 6-Figure Remote Jobs on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7SxhFdX

What’s your favorite part about remote work?

Repost if you love remote work 🙌🏼

I can’t stop thinking about this…

Never underestimate the quiet ones.

The ones who are quietly studying after work / on weekends.

Sending DMs to people they admire.

Choosing podcasts / books > Netflix.

Focused on being just 1% better every single day.

Self-education is what separates the goods from the GREATS.

Because when you choose to learn in your free time...

You’re building something no one can take away

That’s exactly how my “little” side hustle of posting on LinkedIn turned into a 6-fig business.

Allowing me to quit my dream tech job and replace my income in < 1 year.

Here’s how I approach learning something new:

1/ Get ridiculously clear on your learning goal

↳ What exactly am I trying to learn, and why does it matter right now?
↳ Write it down down: “I’m learning [X] so I can [Y] by [Z date].”

2/ Do a brutally honest skill audit

↳ Where am I truly starting from? Beginner? Intermediate?
↳ I rate myself on a 1–5 scale, then identify 1–2 focus areas for the week.

3/ Source high-quality content (not just what's trending)

↳ I follow 2–3 trusted experts who are 5 steps ahead (not 10).
↳ I choose one main format to learn from (podcast, YouTube, course, etc.).

4/ Build a non-negotiable learning routine

↳ I block 10–30 minutes daily on my calendar like it’s a real meeting.
↳ Write down key learnings every time + 1 action you can commit to.

5/ Create social accountability

↳ I tell a friend (or post publicly) what I’m working on.
↳ I set a tiny consequence if I fall off (like buying them lunch or sending $20).

If you’re not learning, you’re not growing.

What’s 1 thing you’re learning in 2025?

Drop it in the comments - I’d love to cheer you on!

PS. If you've been quietly putting in the work and you're ready for the next big leap…

I launched a 5-week program to help you land your next Program Manager role so you can be richer, happier, and thrive on the job (no PMP required)

✅ Apply now & chat with my team!
https://lnkd.in/eN_pc9rX

♻️ Repost to help more people stop waiting and start learning.

Never underestimate a person who practices self education in their free time.

What I learned about life.

It’s not meant to be easy.

It’s hard, uncomfortable, even painful at times.

Here’s what I mean:

↳ I was bullied growing up.
↳ I was fired from a job I loved.
↳ I lost my mom to cancer when I was 25.

I could’ve stayed angry but I chose to start over.

And by giving myself another ‘do over’:

✔️ I have amazing friends & mentors
✔️ I landed dream jobs at dream companies
✔️ I built a 6-figure business doing what I love
✔️ I found the love of my life (I made the first move)

It’s never too late to rewrite your story.

And know what else?

Your environment matters more than you know.

People thrive when things are clear.

Teams thrive when systems replace chaos.

Companies thrive when employees have tools to do their best work.

And I’m so grateful to partner with Jotform, an incredibly powerful and intuitive form builder to help teams operate faster and smarter (all driven by data).

With their updated Enterprise version (2.0), they're giving companies a clearer & more thoughtful way to organize/understand their data, and build systems that run quietly in the background.

I love their new admin console that centralizes literally everything (think assets and analytics), access to a curated help center + actionable guides, and ability to create visual dashboards to see what actually works (and doesn’t).

While it’s never too late to start over,
it can be too late to stay stuck.

A toxic partner costs your peace.
A bad process can cost thousands.
A role with no growth drains your potential.

If you’re looking for a solution that is truly tailored for your custom needs: better data, cleaner workflows, and a centralized source-of-truth,

I highly recommend you try out Jotform: https://lnkd.in/eQepb6wn

What’s 1 hard thing you can do today that your future self with thank you for?

Don’t be afraid to start over again. 
You may like your new story better.


Introverts love remote work.

I noticed I’m way more productive WFH.

No more dealing with:

- Office distractions
- Endless meetings
- Commuting

I’ve traded it for:

- Flexibility
- A quiet mind
- A healthier body

The truth is: people operate at their best in an environment that works for them.

It can be hybrid, in-office, or entirely remote.

For many introverts like me, it’s a dream lifestyle 🥹.

And with tools like Jotform, an incredibly powerful and intuitive form builder, I’ve never been more productive. 

I love how ridiculously simple they make online data and payment collection that enable me to build strong systems that operate in the background.

It’s no surprise that it’s literally trusted by 34M users worldwide including nonprofits, SMBs and enterprises that may need bespoke tools for gathering better data. 

Remote work isn’t just a new way of working.

It’s a new way of living. 

Did you know Jotform has AI-powered template creation that lets users generate server-wide forms from a single prompt and makes them available to everyone at work?

🔗 Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eNy3fNFP

Repost if you love remote work 🙌🏼

Leadership is not a title.

And not all bosses are leaders.

I’ve worked at some of the best companies in the world.

But you know what?

Great companies don’t = quality bosses.

If I were to go back to corporate, I would choose my boss over any paycheck.

Because no paycheck is worth your mental health 💙

__

7 Qualities of a Great Leader:

✅ Lead by example

✅ Values & respects you

✅ Have your best interests

✅ Be kind and constructive

✅ Care about you as a person

✅ Help you grow in your career

✅ Advocate for you in rooms you’re not in

A good boss is better than a good company.

Repost if you agree 🙏🏼 and follow Jean Kang for more.

a toxic boss will cost you more than any paycheck

What I used to care about (before accepting a job)

↳ Perks (Free food, swag, etc)
↳ Company name
↳ Location
↳ Title

What I care about now (after I got all the above)

★ Flexible time off (without the guilt)

★ A manager who has my back

★ Growth opportunities

★ Psychological safety

★ Exciting challenges

★ Supportive team

★ Remote-friendly

The superficial things are temporary bliss.

Prioritize your non-negotiables.

And assess your list regularly.

If you’re looking for a job, I hope you find the right role, culture and boss for you 💙.

What’s your non-negotiable? 👇🏼

Things employees don't care about
- title
- perks
- benefits
- company name
- nice office

What employees actually care about
- Flexible time off (without the guilt)
- A manager who has my back
- Growth opportunities
- Psychological safety
- Exciting challenges
- Supportive team
- Remote-friendly

Rule for life: Don’t get stuck in the wrong place

9 questions to ask to get UNSTUCK (and break free 🦋):

1. Am I learning and growing?

→ Do I feel challenged and stimulated in my current role?

2. Do I feel like I can make an impact?

→ Am I contributing meaningfully to the team and organization?

3. Do I align with the values of the company?

→ Do our shared beliefs and goals resonate?

4. Am I being valued and recognized for my work?

→ Do I feel appreciated and rewarded for my contributions?

5. Do I enjoy working with my team and my boss?

→ Are there positive relationships and support at work?

6. Am I being underutilized or overextended?

→ Is my workload balanced and fulfilling?

7. Am I feeling burnt out or stressed?

→ Is my mental and emotional health being affected?

8. Am I aligned with the company's direction and goals?

→ Do I see a clear path for my career growth within the organization?

9. Am I considering alternative career paths or opportunities?

→ Do I feel hopeful about exploring new possibilities?

It's better to admit you walked through the wrong door than to spend your life in the wrong room. Repost if you agree 🙏🏼

P.S. Grab my worksheet for finding a job you love and the best-curated big tech interview guide from places like Meta, Pinterest & Apple

🎁 Just add your email and get it for free https://lnkd.in/ef2GJX5P

Better to admit you walked in the wrong
door than spend your life in the wrong room. 

You’re gonna want to save THIS 📌

Companies like Google, Meta, & Amazon have public interview guides that outline exactly what they’re looking for.

I love democratizing access to incredible resources (and access to tech)

So here are a few of my favorite public guides (all free!) 🎁

1/ Meta Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/e-SPVNfv

2/ Amazon Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/ed9vUHbU

3/ Microsoft Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/eA69HGkF

4/ Google Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/eTmtDJrZ

5/ NVIDIA Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/ex_bQfUn

6/ Spotify Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/eA8gVRtV

7/ Uber Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/equ-Bqfk

8/ Pinterest Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/e4tERBsu

9/ Apple Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/eQwvT2Ad

10/ Salesforce Interview Guide:

https://lnkd.in/eEwyfHdH

May new doors open for you this before end of year 🙏🏼

📌 P.S. And if you're into actionable tips, try out my newsletter.

I talk about leveling up your 9-to-5, building a fulfilling side hustle, and designing a life on your terms.

https://lnkd.in/gc2mu4yK 

🙌🏼 Share this with your network to help them nail their interviews and land dream roles & follow Jean Kang for more

10 Big Tech Interview Guides

I think I get the Formula 1 hype now ✨

F1 is one of the rare sports that brings together the human and the machine ⚙️🏎️

I spent all week in Vegas with Atlassian and Williams Racing and saw up close how world class collaboration really works.

They invest in people, hardware and software to keep thousands of team members operating at their best.

Everything moves in sync so parts get to the track faster, and the car gets faster too 💨

It was surreal to watch a high performance team move in true harmony.

Who else cheered for Atlassian Williams Racing? 🙌🏼🏎️

#ad #atlassianpartner #f1

Brand partnership • Tech Creator (400k+) with 8M+ monthly views | Ex-LinkedIn, Meta, Figma | Solopreneur, TEDx Speaker & Angel Investor helping you thrive at work using AI

Lorraine K. Lee

Wiley

➡️ unforgettablepresencebook.com

*𝑷𝑹𝑨𝑰𝑺𝑬*
If you’ve ever felt that your hard work wasn’t enough to move you forward, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞. It shows that the answer isn’t to become loud, flashy, or inauthentic. Instead, the secret is to follow Lee’s advice and craft a professional presence that reflects who you are while making sure the right people notice.”
–Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of 'The Power of Regret' and 'To Sell Is Human'

'Unforgettable Presence' is 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 who want to foster deeper connections and seamless collaboration across any setting. Through tactical frameworks and relatable stories, Lorraine K. Lee shows us how both teams and individuals can communicate with purpose, build confidence, and create lasting impact.
–Eric S. Yuan, Founder and CEO of Zoom

In business and in life, how you show up matters. 'Unforgettable Presence' is your guide to making every interaction count. Lorraine K. Lee offers 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥.
–Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter

In a world where early-in-career individuals are pressured to have an authentic personal brand from day one on the job, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭. Lorraine K. Lee breaks down complex topics into clear, actionable strategies for anyone serious about leveling up.
–Natalie Marshall (aka Corporate Natalie), Content Creator and Advisor

'Unforgettable Presence' is 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 and owning your value at work. Lorraine K. Lee breaks it down with actionable advice and relatable stories that anyone—from entry-level to exec—can use to get noticed and make moves. 
–Vivian Tu, NYT Bestselling Author of 'Rich AF'

Best-selling author of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career

Writing thought leadership pieces on career advancement, communication frameworks, leadership strategies, and how to get ahead at work.

CNBC

Writing thought leadership pieces on career advancement, communication frameworks, leadership strategies, and how to get ahead at work for CNBC's Make It. Multiple articles have trended at #1.

RISE Learning Solutions

RISE Learning Solutions helps organizations and teams RISE to become more Respected, Influential, Successful, and Empowered. RISE Learning Solutions is a holding company for all of Lorraine Lee's business ventures.

RISE was founded by Lorraine K. Lee, who speaks, consults, and teaches clients how to stand out and supercharge their professional presence — meaning both *how* and *where* others see you.

Recent speaking clients include Zoom, Cisco, and Atlassian; recent consulting clients include Inspiration At Work (on behalf of the National Institute of Mental Health) and UC Irvine.

See more of Lorraine's work and testimonials below.

Founder

Stanford Continuing Studies

Invited to teach flagship public speaking and presentation course, "The Art of Public Speaking." (Fall 2024) Received 4.7/5 rating (avg scores are 4.5-4.6)

***

Invited to teach "Essential Video Communication Skills for Today's Workplace," a 3-week virtual course covering video communications, virtual presentations, and virtual meetings. (Fall 2023)

⭐️ Course Rating: 4.86/5 (average Stanford Continuing Studies course is 4.4-4.6/5)

Instructor, Stanford CSP

Lorraine K. Lee | Leadership and Professional Development | Corporate Keynote Speaker

Get personalized support for your team or organization.

➤ Create a LinkedIn strategy and content calendar as an executive to build your visibility, thought leadership, and credibility (Limited number of clients per month)
➤ 1:1 coaching on topics like executive presence, public speaking and presentations, and video communication (Limited number of clients per month)

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆

✨Two years ago, I received a federal grant from the 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 to create a program to alleviate the emotional distress associated with unemployment. Although I had a strong vision and desire to help a lot of people, I had a limited budget and was overwhelmed by the notion of creating a visually appealing and content rich online product. Throughout the entire process of developing the DRIVEN prototype, 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 on everything from working with Prezi software to ensuring our actors were positioned effectively in front of the right type of webcams and lighting. She is endlessly patient, generous, and thorough, and I'm so very lucky to count her as a part of the DRIVEN team today and hopefully in the future as the program evolves.
—𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘟 𝘓𝘌𝘝𝘐𝘛, 𝘞𝘖𝘙𝘒𝘍𝘖𝘙𝘊𝘌 𝘍𝘜𝘛𝘜𝘙𝘐𝘚𝘛, 𝘞𝘚𝘑 𝘊𝘖𝘓𝘜𝘔𝘕𝘐𝘚𝘛, 𝘐𝘕𝘛'𝘓 𝘉𝘌𝘚𝘛𝘚𝘌𝘓𝘓𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘈𝘜𝘛𝘏𝘖𝘙

✨ My team and I were brainstorming how to build our company's LinkedIn presence, and Lorraine has a proven track record of building brand presence on LinkedIn from the ground-up. In our call, Lorraine was able to walk me through the foundations of where to get started. Our conversation was a great jumping off point, and she was able to guide me to focus on some approaches to 𝐦𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐑𝐎𝐈 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬.
—𝘒𝘈𝘛𝘐𝘌 𝘒𝘞𝘖𝘕, 𝘔𝘈𝘙𝘒𝘌𝘛𝘐𝘕𝘎 @ 𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘐𝘊 𝘌𝘋𝘌𝘕

Consultant

• Launched 18 LinkedIn Learning courses across a variety of topics. Popular ones include: Virtual and Hybrid Meeting Essentials, Nano Tips for Giving and Receiving Feedback, Nano Tips for Managing Up, How to Speak So Others Will Listen Nano Tips, Nano Tips for Self-Motivation
• Selected as an instructor for Stanford CSP's flagship public speaking course, "The Art of Public Speaking"
• Selected as one of the first 30 LinkedIn Nano Learning Instructors, and one of 2,500 LinkedIn Learning Instructors worldwide
• Invited to be instructor for a cohort-based course platform called Maven, founded by Udemy co-founder; Part of Maven's 3rd cohort, made up of 145 instructors from 27 countries in 100+ cities (out of 2,000+ applicants); Launched and led 3-week course for inaugural cohort titled, "Engage Your Virtual Workforce"

Online Course Creator and Instructor

🎙𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊: 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐊𝐋𝐄𝐄.𝐂𝐎𝐌/𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆

🏆 Named a Top Virtual Keynote Speaker - ReadWrite (2020)
🏆 Finalist: Global Conference Speaker of the Year - WomenTech (2022)
🏆 Survey results: Speaker rating: 4.8/5, 100% learned something new, 98% found the session valuable (2023)

𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫, with experience speaking to global audiences ranging from Fortune 100 companies to startups, including Zoom, Cisco, Atlassian, and GitLab. She’s also a 5x-LinkedIn Learning Instructor with more than 300,000 followers on LinkedIn. 

Lorraine speaks on a wide range of topics, and each of her talks receive rave reviews: In 2022, she was rated a 4.92/5 as a speaker with 100% of attendees saying they learned something new.

Popular talks:
➤ How to Have Better Meetings (#2 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦-𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮 '22 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦)
➤ How to Build Your LinkedIn Presence
➤ How to Make a Memorable First Impression on Video
➤ How to Present Like a Pro
➤ How to Stand Out On Video and Beat Zoom Fatigue

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 (More at lorraineklee.com/testimonials)

✨ I [...] recently invited her to speak at Zoom as part of our internal speaker series. Lorraine led a masterclass in engaging an audience virtually, including using cutting-edge tools to elevate virtual storytelling. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞'𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. — 𝘈𝘙𝘜𝘕 𝘑, 𝘡𝘖𝘖𝘔

✨Her presentation was 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 on how to improve our video communications. Her presentation encouraged engagement in an authentic way that made everyone enjoy the call. — 𝘚𝘈𝘔𝘈𝘕𝘛𝘏𝘈 𝘓𝘌𝘌, 𝘎𝘐𝘛𝘓𝘈𝘉

Top-Rated Keynote Speaker and Trainer

• Created 15 LinkedIn Learning courses across a variety of topics. Popular ones include: Virtual and Hybrid Meeting Essentials, Nano Tips for Giving and Receiving Feedback, Nano Tips for Managing Up
• Selected as one of only 2,500 LinkedIn Learning instructors worldwide
• Selected as one of the first 30 LinkedIn Nanolearning Instructors.

View courses here: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/lorraine-lee

LinkedIn Learning Instructor

Prezi

I was the first Editorial hire at Prezi, the leading presentation software in creating engaging visual communications.

As Director, Head of Editorial, I led a growing team that worked closely with influencers and thought leaders to create educational, informative, and engaging presentations and meetings with Prezi. I was the creator of Prezi's Meeting Guidebook (an internal and external-facing resource), and a founding member and lead for Women@Prezi.

• Drove tens of thousands of registrations through webinar program that focused on topics incl. hybrid work, presentations, and public speaking, with expert guests from Slack, Stanford, and more
• Build relationships with subject-matter experts and business leaders to create and live stream Prezi videos with goal of 1) building top-of-funnel awareness 2) driving leads and 3) creating content library that grows user engagement and acquisition
• Grew Prezi Video awareness and adoption through virtual conference collaborations, reaching 100K+ professionals across target audiences
• Co-led PR with CMO and agency; Partnered with CEO to define swim lanes and secure thought leadership, momentum and product launch stories in top-tier publications, including The Wall Street Journal; Managed LinkedIn strategy for CEO
• Authored Prezi’s Meeting Guidebook as part of a task force selected to build out Prezi's virtual-first meeting policies; Collaborated cross-functionally to distribute playbook internally and externally
• Exceeded company average scores for team engagement and management categories, based on employee engagement results
• Founded and led Women@Prezi ERG; Organized and moderated multiple Speaker Series; Published quarterly newsletter

Director, Head of Editorial

• Built relationships with subject-matter experts and business influencers to create Prezi videos with goal of 1) driving top-of-funnel awareness and 2) creating content library that grows user engagement and acquisition
• Launched Prezi’s Presentation Pros cohort to strengthen Prezi’s positioning as a market leader in the presentation space; 86K+ views on creator videos and 5K+ visits to landing page in first 6 months
• Conceptualized Prezi’s first Big Ideas campaign, feat. 15 videos from Influencers such as Hooked’s Nir Eyal, an Emmy Award-winner, Udemy’s VP of Learning, and a CDC Public Health Advisor (https://blog.prezi.com/big-ideas-2021/)
• Oversaw editorial initiatives across business and education verticals, incl. editorial calendar and email campaigns centered around sales audience; “emerging educator influencer” outreach strategy on Twitter; and virtual conferences strategy (https://prezi.com/virtual-conferences/)
• Hired to lead Prezi’s first-ever Editorial team, with focus on business and education verticals; managed two direct reports, 2 contractors, and a rotating quarterly intern

Managing Editor

Maven

• Invited to be an instructor for a new cohort-based course platform called, Maven, founded by the co-founder of Udemy and the co-founder of altMBA. Maven has raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz
• Part of Maven's 3rd cohort, made up of 145 instructors from 27 countries in 100+ cities (out of 2,000+ applicants)

Join the waitlist: http://maven.com/lorraine-k-lee/video-linkedin
Join the newsletter: https://courses.lorraineklee.com/signup

Course Instructor

• Developed social media strategy for LinkedIn Editors across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn; Implemented paid campaigns that surpassed LinkedIn CTR benchmarks by +947% (FB) and +175% (Twitter) while lowering CPC up to 95% (projected savings of ~$1.3M); Mentor university interns on quarterly basis for social initiatives like crafting weekly content insights email for stakeholders, including then-SVP of Product (current CEO of LinkedIn)
• Lead editorial strategy for LinkedIn’s first newsletter product; Wrote weekly newsletter curating top newsletters; selected pilot participants; Educated writers on publishing best practices 
• Conceptualized and hosted #FemaleFounder video series, one of the most engaging series on our LinkedIn News Page
• Wrote and reported for LinkedIn Lists franchise; Co-led first List webinar to educate and excite honorees; built first content calendar to spark member conversation
• Mentored university interns on quarterly basis for initiatives including crafting weekly content insights email for stakeholders; and creating and translating the Content Creator's Guide (https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/100132) to more efficiently educate members about LinkedIn and how to create impactful content (85% helpfulness score)
• Established GDPR compliance across Editorial tools and processes

News Editor, Special Projects

News Editor, San Francisco // February 2016-October 2016
News Editor, Hong Kong (on assignment) // November 2016-November 2017
 
• Wrote Daily Rundown, a digest of breaking news and trends delivered to ~170 million members; script for video digest (https://www.slideshare.net/LinkedInPulse/tagged/Daily%20Top%20Headlines)
• Wrote heds, deks, and descriptions; curated first- and third-party content for the top stories feature, an editorially-driven way to see and discuss today’s news and views
• Operationalized processes for LinkedIn Influencer program to ensure active engagement by participants
• Operated independently as the sole US editor in the Asia-Pacific region as part of 24-hour global news team
• Supported launch of LinkedIn's first-ever video app, "Record"; collaborated with LinkedIn Influencers to create content for app launch

News Editor, Daily News

🎙️ Virtual Speaker | 300K+ Followers | LinkedIn Learning Instructor | Consultant | Editorial + Tech | Ex-LinkedIn, SlideShare, Prezi | I help organizations and teams stand out and supercharge their professional presence

📖 Grab your copy of Unforgettable Presence, an instant #1 Amazon bestseller and Next Big Idea Club must-read: https://amzn.to/3Hdv79r

My career grew exponentially and unexpectedly in 2021 when I decided to get more comfortable with public speaking. 

Full of nerves, I spoke whenever and wherever. In a surprising turn of events, speaking became a small side hustle while I led Prezi's editorial team.

Then I got laid off in 2022. The combination of that side hustle, the career brand I had created, and my 10+ years of experience as a founding editor at numerous tech firms like LinkedIn and Prezi gave me the confidence to start my own company, RISE Learning Solutions, where I am now a keynote speaker and trainer, content creator, and instructor teaching courses to global audiences with LinkedIn Learning and Stanford Continuing Studies.

Looking back, I've realized that all the opportunities that have come my way have happened because of my 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 — both in terms of 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 others see me. I believe being intentional about these two things are the most critical factors to someone's professional success, and it's why I'm so passionate to share all the skills that fuel presence: from presentations and communication to managing up and LinkedIn.

🎙️ Keynote Speaker and Trainer: In 2023, 100% of surveyed attendees say they learned something new; 98% of attendees said they found my sessions valuable; and I received a speaker rating of 4.9/5.  Past clients: Amazon, Zoom, Cisco, ServiceNow, and McKinsey and Company.

👩🏻‍🏫 Instructor @ LinkedIn Learning and Stanford Continuing Studies. I also create custom courses for organizations. I've empowered more than 250,000+ LinkedIn learners with all 15+ of my courses rated 4.7/5 and up. Watch: lorraineklee.com/linkedinlearning

✏️ Content Creator: I publish on LinkedIn M-Sat, and share bite-sized career and leadership tips through my free weekly newsletter, Career Bites (lorraineklee.com/subscribe).

🏆 Named a LinkedIn Top Voice
🏆Top virtual keynote speaker by ReadWrite
🏆Featured in Inc, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, CNBC, and more

🎓 BSJ from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism

📧 DM me or email me at contact@lorraineklee.com if you'd like to collaborate! (See what it's like to work with me in my 200+ recommendations 👇🏻)

🥊 Outside of work, I can be found doing muay thai and eating my way through San Francisco

Top-Rated Virtual Keynote Speaker and Trainer

I spent the first 5 years of my career thinking I was being polite. In reality, I was undermining my worth:

"Sorry, can I just ask..."
"I might be wrong, but..."
"This is probably a dumb question..."

Sound familiar? I was sabotaging my own authority — and didn't even realize it. 🥲

Your words tell people how to treat you. And the language that feels “polite” early in your career can quietly hold you back later.

Here are 7 phrases that make you sound junior (and what leaders say instead):

1️⃣ "Sorry to bother you..."
Say instead: "Do you have 5 minutes to discuss X?"
Leaders value their time and yours. Be direct.

2️⃣ "I think maybe we should..."
Say instead: "I recommend we..."
Own your expertise. You were hired for your judgment.

3️⃣ "Does that make sense?"
Say instead: "Happy to answer any questions."
Assume clarity. Let others flag confusion if needed. 

4️⃣ "I'm not sure if this is right..."
Say instead: "Based on my analysis..."
Make a confident recommendation based on the information you have.

5️⃣ "Just a quick thought..."
Say instead: "I've been thinking about X and here's my take..."
Take out unnecessary qualifiers.

6️⃣ "Ugh so sorry for the delay..."
Say instead: "Thanks for your patience!"
Turn apologies into appreciation. It changes the entire dynamic.

7️⃣ "I'll try to get it done..."
Say instead: "I'll have it to you by [date]."
Trying is hoping. Committing builds trust.

Start speaking like the leader you want to be. ✨

Which phrase are you guilty of overusing?

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👋 I'm Lorraine—keynote speaker and bestselling author. I help rising leaders build an unforgettable presence and stand out at work. Follow for more actionable career tips!

♻️ Reshare if this resonated with you!

📘 PS: Want more communication scripts that command respect? Check out my book, 𝙐𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚: https://amzn.to/3Hdv79r

📘Grab bestseller Unforgettable Presence to go from overlooked to unforgettable 🎙️ Corporate Keynote Speaker & Trainer 👩🏻‍🏫 Instructor: LinkedIn Learning, Stanford 💼 Prev. Founding Editor @ LinkedIn, Prezi

𝙐𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 won an award! 🥹

It placed 2nd at The BookFest® Awards for Business Leadership & Professional Growth. 🏆

I am so happy that this book is out there helping professionals transform how they show up at work so that they can become truly unforgettable. 

What readers are saying:

💬 "I can genuinely say that your book was the best I have read this year!" - Belen 
💬 "I love your new book. Your thoughts and insights are spot on" - Mark 
💬 "Thanks for all the great tips... I feel like everyone should read and take notes!) - Stephanie

Thank you to everyone who's supported this journey. 💙

If you've been thinking about grabbing a copy (for yourself, a colleague, or that new grad in your life), now's a great time: https://amzn.to/3Hdv79r

Y/N: Do you know someone who has an unforgettable presence? Give them a shout out below!

* * * * * *

👋 I'm Lorraine K. Lee—keynote speaker and bestselling author. I help rising leaders build an unforgettable presence and stand out at work. Follow for more actionable career tips!

♻️ Reshare if this resonated with you!

📘 PS: Ready to go from overlooked to unforgettable? Grab the book: https://amzn.to/3Hdv79r

Bestselling Author (Unforgettable Presence) | Corporate Keynote Speaker | Instructor: LinkedIn Learning & Stanford | Former Founding Editor at LinkedIn & Prezi

This morning I woke up to 330,000 of you 🥹 … which means it’s time for a proper (re)introduction!

👋 Hi, I'm Lorraine! 

Here’s what you won’t see in my headline:

→ I studied journalism, then spent the first decade of my career as a founding editor in tech
→ I struggled with getting noticed, recognized, and rewarded at work in my early years
→ I'm an introvert who had to learn this was a strength, not a weakness
→ I was laid off in 2022 and decided to bet on myself

That bet changed everything. Now, I do so many things I wouldn't have dreamt of even a few years ago:

→ Corporate keynote speaker for companies like Google, Amazon, Figma, Zoom and Omnicom
→ Instructor at LinkedIn Learning (19 courses!) and Stanford Continuing Studies
→ Bestselling author of 𝙐𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚
→ Featured in CNBC, CNN, Forbes, Bloomberg, Fast Company, Financial Times, and more! 

That "bet" turned into speaking on stages I once only dreamed of, teaching hundreds of thousands of professionals to own their voice, and building a business that helps people go from overlooked to unforgettable.

If you’re new here, here’s how I can support you:

✨ Subscribe to my free newsletter Career Bites — bite-sized tips to grow your career and leadership in under 3 minutes.

✨ Book me as a speaker. I’ve led hundreds of sessions at companies like GitLab, Zoom, Cisco, Atlassian, and Figma (rated 4.9/5.0 overall).

✨ Grab a copy of my book, 𝙐𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, for frameworks that help you go from overlooked to unforgettable.

Now that you know a little more about me… your turn!

👇 Drop a quick intro in the comments — who you are, what you do, and one fun fact about you!

I spent 5 years in corporate waiting for a promotion that never came.

Even as my scope grew.

I was managing interns, leading projects, taking on more — but my title stayed the same.

When I finally switched companies, I jumped levels. Same skills. Different results.

That's when it hit me: Promotions aren't rewards for performance. They're bets on potential.

I’d been focused on the wrong thing.

Your boss isn't tracking your extra hours. They're watching for signals that you can handle the next level.

Here are 5 daily habits I wish I’d started earlier to signal my potential:

1️⃣ Think two levels up. 
Stop solving today's problems. Start preventing next quarters. In meetings, ask: "How will this scale when we're twice this size?"

2️⃣ Document your decisions, not just your tasks
Anyone can check boxes. Leaders leave breadcrumbs. Send weekly emails: "Made X decision because Y. Result: Z."

3️⃣ Build bridges before you need them
Have coffee with one person outside your department monthly. Expanding your network expands your opportunities.

4️⃣ Share what you're learning
Post insights. Lead lunch-and-learns. Write internal blog posts. Leaders teach — start now. 

5️⃣ Ask for problems, not projects
"What's keeping you up at night?" beats "What can I help with?" every time. Solve headaches, not to-dos.

I thought working harder would get me promoted. But promotions go to people who work differently.

Your performance proves you can do your job. 

Your potential proves you can do the next one. ✨

Y/N: Do you agree?

* * * * * *

👋 I'm Lorraine—keynote speaker and bestselling author. I help rising leaders build an unforgettable presence and stand out at work. Follow for more actionable career tips!

♻️ Reshare if this resonated with you!

📘 PS: Ready to go from overlooked to unforgettable? Grab the book: https://amzn.to/3Hdv79r

My first Forbes feature is live!! 

In my article, I tackle a question I get asked constantly:

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜’𝗺 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴?!

I share 5 simple, non-cringey ways to do just that.

(You’ll want to read this before you create your annual reviews!)

You can read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gmUZDvcw 

(Thank you to Julia Korn for making the intro and to my editor Sarah Chandler Perez)

Five years into my speaking career, and I’m now speaking alongside Neil Patel Ali Abdaal, and Seth Godin 🌔. 🤯

Ten years ago, I was the introvert avoiding presentations at ALL COSTS! 😂

When I did present, I was:
…trying to hide the fact that my hands were shaking
…sweating through my shirt (lol)
…wondering if I’d ever feel confident speaking to a room of 10 people, let alone thousands.

Digital Cut 2025 brings together some of the most influential digital minds on the planet for three days of deep dives into:

✨ AI & Automation
✨ Marketing & Advertising
✨ Content Creation
✨ Product-Led Growth
✨ RevOps & Data

I’ll be discussing what presence looks like in the age of AI, and how an introvert who once hid behind her laptop built a career helping millions show up with clarity, confidence, and credibility.

And I can’t wait.

Will I see you there? 

FEB. 6-8, 2026 | Register here: https://digitalcut.co/

Taking a moment to appreciate the people who've made a real difference in my journey these last few months 🙏🏻 

(Make sure to give them a follow, too!)

Ryan Leffel and I met through his podcast. Then he asked me to join him in New York for a UXDX event. Then he suggested I speak at Priceline. Thank you for always thinking about the next opportunity for me!

Dorie Clark carved out time literally the morning of a flight to meet me in person for the first time. She generously shared her experiences and ideas. (Say hello to us on Instagram: https://lnkd.in/gh2N7KFs)

Che Ugwuala, MBA and I connected over LinkedIn, started talking about ways to collaborate, then he went above and beyond to organize and facilitate a fireside chat at Google’s New York office. 

Brandon Smithwrick 🧠 and I met at Hubspot’s INBOUND Creator program and when I recently reached out with some questions about the creator space, he generously wrote me a very long text with his answer the same day!

Kendra Stone, MBA hosted me at ServiceNow in New York and made what could have been a standard office visit into something memorable. She offered up the office in case I needed good internet (I did for a virtual event), reserved a room for said event and even got a monitor brought in, and took me out to lunch with the team (thanks, Marc Monday!). 

So appreciative of all of you! 💙

Who's been your unexpected champion this year?

After 3 years running my own business, these are a few of the things I appreciate most:

🔵 Becoming friends with other solopreneurs-turned-friends (who would have thought talking about work would be so energizing 😅)

🔵 Meetings only when they’re actually needed 
(love a good async collab — Nicole Kayla, you’re brilliant at this!)

🔵 Providing economic opportunity for others
(such a rewarding feeling)

🔵 Sharpening my negotiation and business acumen skills
(these are skills I can take with me wherever)

🔵 Being able to WFH in silence
(an introvert’s dream)

🔵 Watching my team and revenue grow
(it’s so cool to see everyone’s direct impact on the bottom line)

Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty that’s hard about running RISE Learning Solutions… but today (and most days), I try to focus on the positives because I’m so lucky to do what I do. :)

What questions do you have for me about my business?

PS: Check out my year 3 solopreneur reflections here: https://lnkd.in/gSSfhF7H

Just wrapped up my third year in business!!! 🥹 And to think it all began from a layoff.

As part of my annual tradition, I’m sharing a business recap and my favorite lessons with all of you in this special edition of Career Bites — the one time a year it’s more than 3-minute read. 😂

Read the full recap ⤵️

*****

PS: Want my previous recaps?

Year 👆: https://lnkd.in/gBgWDJ7b 
Year ✌️:  https://lnkd.in/gE8dQ7Cd 

#CareerBites #careertips #solopreneurtips #entrepreneurtips

Hi Reader, It’s been 3 years since I was laid off and began this crazy journey of solopreneurship (or should I say, entrepreneurship, now that I’ve ma

Open article: what I learned in year 3 of solopreneurship by Lorraine K. Lee • 10 min read

what I learned in year 3 of solopreneurship

So many emails fail before they even start. 😬

And when that happens, you’re not just losing replies —
you're losing opportunities, trust, and influence.

Not because your idea is bad…
but because one sentence is killing your credibility. 😣

If your emails are getting ignored, it might not be your message — it might be your opener.

👉 I'm sharing the 3 phrases that are quietly working against you (and what to say instead) in today's newsletter. ⬇️

#CareerBites #careertips #credibility

I recently sat down with Mo Bunnell on Real Relationships, Real Revenue to talk about what personal branding really means today. We dug into authentic

Open article: 3 email phrases your boss secretly hates by Lorraine K. Lee • 4 min read

My team and network are full of podcast lovers, so I asked them to share their go-to listens for career growth.

After dozens of recommendations, these six came up more than once:

🎧 Think Fast Talk Smart — Matt Abrahams
Practical communication tools to speak clearly under pressure.

🎧 Psychology at Work — Melody Wilding, LMSW
Insights on emotional intelligence, confidence, and navigating tough work moments.

🎧 Future of HR Consulting — JP Elliott, PhD
Real-world insights on modern HR, talent strategy, and what leaders need to build strong, people-first organizations.

🎧 Get Hired — Andrew Seaman
Actionable job-search advice from one of LinkedIn’s top career experts that teaches you how to find work aligned with your interests, values and strengths.

🎧 Tiger Sisters — Cherie Brooke Luo & Jean Luo
Smart, honest conversations about career, identity, and ambition.

🎧 Career Contessa — Lauren McGoodwin
Career guidance for women navigating growth, job changes, and leadership.

Some teach presence.
Some teach psychology.
Some teach leadership.

All of them teach you something you can apply right away.

PS: If you're curious to hear every podcast I've been on, here's the playlist: https://lnkd.in/gMqXSuyG

What are you listening to right now? 👇

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♻️ Reshare to help more people discover their next great listen!

My Favorite Podcasts

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Hope you’re all having a wonderful time reconnecting with family and friends. 🧡

A strategic introduction led to my biggest speaking client this year. Here's the exact 4-part intro formula that turns connections into contracts:

Most people think intros are just about being nice.

But as a business owner, I know introductions and word of mouth can make or break your pipeline. The difference? Knowing what separates intros that die in inboxes from ones that turn into real opportunities.

Intros that go nowhere:

❌ "You two should really connect!"
❌ Vague context about why you're connecting
❌ No clear next step or call-to-action
❌ Making the intro without permission

My 4-part formula that actually converts:

✅ Get permission first — "Would you be open to an intro to [Name]? They're looking for [specific need you can solve]"
✅ Draft it yourself — Send them a copy/paste template to make it effortless (game-changer!)
✅ Give them an out — "No pressure if now isn't the right time" shows respect for their bandwidth
✅ Be their hype person — Include specific wins or expertise for both parties. They'll remember this when making intros for YOU

This system helped me land keynotes at Cisco, ServiceNow, and TripAdvisor — all from strategic introductions, not cold pitches.

Swipe for the exact templates →

How do you approach professional introductions? What's worked for you?

* * * * * *

👋 I'm Lorraine—keynote speaker and bestselling author. I help rising leaders build an unforgettable presence and stand out at work. Follow for more actionable career tips!

♻️ Reshare if this resonated with you!

📘 PS: Ready to go from overlooked to unforgettable? Grab the book: https://amzn.to/3Hdv79r

How to Ask for an Intro (without burning bridges)

Tech taught me a lot — but nothing prepared me for losing my job. 😣

One morning in November 2022, a single meeting invite changed everything.

After a decade in the industry — LinkedIn, SlideShare, Prezi — I thought I was secure. I’d built programs, led teams, and delivered results.

But none of that matters during a layoff.

What I didn’t realize at the time was how much that moment would transform my career. It forced me to rethink who I was outside of a company name, and it pushed me to make decisions I never would’ve made if I’d stayed comfortable.

This week's newsletter breaks down the lessons that helped me turn a layoff into something better.

👉 If you’re facing a layoff, uncertainty, or a pivot of your own… this one's for you.

#CareerBites #careertips #layoffs

Big news — I’m heading to SXSW! 🌟 I’m so excited to share that I’ll be speaking at SXSW 2026 in Austin! I’ll be co-hosting the LinkedIn Creators Meet

Open article: 3 things no one tells you about getting laid off by Lorraine K. Lee • 4 min read

3 things no one tells you about getting laid off

You’re qualified for roles at Google, Meta, Amazon, and top AI companies.

But recruiters still aren't messaging you.

The job market is tough, but I'm still seeing great candidates land offers in just 1-3 months.

I know what it feels like to work hard, think you're doing everything right, and still get overlooked.

That's why I'm hosting a FREE LinkedIn Workshop with Superinterviews  tomorrow, Dec. 10 @ 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET! 

When I ran this workshop in November, the response was so positive that we’re bringing it back one more time! 

This time around, we’ll include a deeper look at visibility too, not just LinkedIn. Because getting opportunities isn’t only about optimizing your profile. It’s about how you communicate your value everywhere.

Kasey ✨ KD ✨, Jeremy Barton, and I will discuss:

✨ How to make yourself known in whatever room you’re in
✨ What makes a profile stand out in a 6–8 second scan
✨ What recruiters are actually looking for in candidates
✨ Ways to update your LinkedIn profile so it finally gets seen

Plus: There may or may not be some LIVE LinkedIn profile reviews too 😬 

Spots are limited, so grab your seat now! https://luma.com/z4z3comj

#SidebarPartner

CNN asked me one question: What kills executive presence?

In my interview with Maribel Aber, I shared how there are many phrases we use everyday that are quietly sabotaging our credibility.

The phrases we think make us polite? 
They're actually making us invisible.

Phrases like:
→ “Sorry”
→ “Does that make sense?”
→ “I think…”
→ “I feel…”

The biggest shift in presence starts when you stop apologizing for showing up and start speaking like you belong in the room.

Here's what 10 years in corporate and tech taught me: The words you choose influence your presence. 

Choose wisely. ✨

Watch the full segment to hear the exact language swaps that command respect instead of undermining your authority. 

* * * * * *

👋 I'm Lorraine—keynote speaker and bestselling author. I help rising leaders build an unforgettable presence and stand out at work. Follow for more actionable career tips!

♻️ Reshare if this resonated with you!

📘 PS: Ready to go from overlooked to unforgettable? Grab the book: https://amzn.to/3Hdv79r

As someone who studied journalism and has spent my entire career in communication/content/marketing roles, I was totally nerding out at getting the chance to speak at Ragan Communications and PR Daily's Future of Communication Conference in Austin last week! 🤩  

I closed out day 1 with a fireside chat — "The Visibility Factor: Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading with Intent."  

While the conference was packed with sessions on hard skills like AI (and yes, we need those), there were a lot of smiles and head nods when we dug into the human skills and career strategies that will be our biggest competitive advantage — from personal branding, to advocating for yourself, to why it's so important to be on LinkedIn.

Here are just a few of my fav pieces of audience feedback so far:

💬 “I so enjoyed your keynote speech. A lot of what you shared really resonated with me :)” 
💬 “Your session really resonated with me and where I am currently in my career. I’m excited to explore how I am showing up at work and defining my career brand. I haven’t thought too much about it before and I look forward to the journey.”
💬 “I listened to your fireside chat at Ragan’s Future of Comms Conference in Austin. Loved your practical guidance for doing little things to make meaningful connections.” 

Remember: We're not competing with AI. We're partnering with it. 

And the professionals who understand how to amplify their human skills alongside these tools are the ones who will own the future of communication.  

Thank you to Alyssa Smith, Allison Carter, and Courtney Blackann for making the event such a success! ✨  

What human skill do you think will matter most in the age of AI?

Highlights from RAGAN's Future of Comms Conference

I have so many reasons to be grateful this year, and one of them is YOU. 😊

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm giving away 5 audiobook copies of 𝙐𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!

I want to help even more of you speak up in that meeting, get that promotion, and build your confidence like the readers below did after reading the book.

Here's what readers are saying:

→ “I loved Chapter 4. It’s helping me tremendously in sharpening my communication skills.” - Nick C.

→ “I've implemented some of your ideas. So far my LinkedIn engagement has increased and a few of my cold messages were answered.” - Jane D.

→ “Your insights were incredibly inspiring and practical, especially for someone like me working as an EA. Just yesterday, I found myself applying one of your tips. My executive was away on a business trip, and I needed his preferences regarding upcoming external events. Normally I keep my messages concise, but this time I made sure to include my rationale. And it worked — he appreciated the context and responded positively! Your advice reminded me that thoughtful communication, even in small moments, can make a big difference. I’m truly grateful for the tools and confidence your work has given me.” - Clara N.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 "𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞" 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜'𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝟱 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵.

Your support made this book an Amazon bestseller. The book has reached thousands of you, thanks to you spreading the word. Your success stories and wins keep me going! 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. 🧡

📸 : Yes, those are all cassette tapes behind me at the Google Atlanta office from when I spoke there in June!

So many of you are fans of my mentor and friend Matt Abrahams. 

Now, you have an awesome opportunity to learn from him directly!

Check out his new Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community to learn all things communication (+ author talks, guided quests, and even AI Coach Matt!): https://lnkd.in/gPqEQ9sk

(He's offering a 1-month free trial too 🤩)

***

PS: Matt and I met in person for the first time earlier this year to record an episode for his Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gqP799bT

💬  𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁!)

I'm creating 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 for ambitious professionals like you.

And with your help, it can be even better!

I'm running a short survey (<5 minutes, promise!) to hear directly from you about the biggest challenges and goals you face in your career right now.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗜'𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲:
→ Aggregated results from 100+ professionals
→ A free career resource based on the top themes
→ Early access to what I'm building (if you want it)

It’s anonymous, takes less than 5 minutes, and your input will directly shape what I create next.

Ready to help me help you? ☺️

👉 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/gpDxPShe 

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨!

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The Battle

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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);}Jean Kang's LinkedIn Performance

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