Impactful Change, LLC

Create a high-performance culture where powerful leaders lead cohesive and efficient teams committed to the growth of your organization. Let me show you how through cutting-edge, data-proven strategies and customized solutions.

OD Consultant, Leadership Development Facilitator and Coach

Under the social media platform, "Lemonade Stand Mama," Jennifer started a movement as she advocated for kids lemonade stands and helped to get laws changed in 17 states. 
-Wall Street Journal Front Page,  the New York Times, Washington Post Magazine, CBS This Morning, Fox and Friends. 
-Consulted with Kraft Heinz Countrytime Lemonade to advocate policy change
-Author of the children's book,  "Awesome Adventures of the Lemonade Boys" available on Amazon.

LemonadeStandMama

Business Insider

I am pleased to share that I have recently taken on the role of Contributing Freelance Writer with Business Insider, a prominent global business and lifestyle publication boasting over 100 million monthly visitors and 198 million social media followers. 

I look forward to contributing insightful content that resonates with our diverse audience. 

Grateful for this opportunity, I am excited to embark on this writing journey with Business Insider.

Check out my first article, the #2 MOST READ article on Business Insider the week of February 19!
https://www.businessinsider.com/child-free-vacation-traveling-without-kids-better-parents-marriage-2024-2

Contributing Writer

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Develop and teach courses to Graduate Business School Students which include:
-Leading Transformation & Change
-Organizational Performance & Change
-Research
-Social Entrepreneurship
-Talent Management and Development
Current research focus is Women in the Workplace & Purpose/Fulfillment

Assistant Professor

Colorado State University

Teaches Graduate Level Courses in Organizational Learning, Performance & Change, and Research.

Adjunct Professor

DFS Group Limited

Talent Development Manager

UCSF, University of Michigan, & Mervyns (Target Corp)

Training & Development

Hi! I'm Jennifer Knowles, Growth and Change Expert for Leaders and Teams

► Who I Help
I work with:
-Leaders who feel stuck and need clarity
-Teams facing change and struggling with communication overload
-Organizations seeking leadership development and talent management support
-High achievers desiring coaching to unlock growth, well-being and career advancement

If you've ever asked:
"How do I engage and retain top talent?"
"What's the best way to prepare my team for organizational change?"
"How can I improve leadership skills across my company?"
      - this is where I can help.

My Mission:
►Amplify the talents of your leaders and teams, unleashing human potential for exponential growth

What I Deliver:

► I create custom coaching, training and keynotes that align with organizational goals, blending research-backed insights with practical application. 

Together, we can:
1.  Increase leadership potential
2. Transform corporate culture
3.  Elevate careers to new heights
4.  Transform change into opportunity
5.  Build productive teams
6.  Create happy workplace environments

► Challenges Organizations Face Today
-Rising stress and burnout among employees
-Constant change and uncertainty in business environments
-Retention struggles with top talent
-Engagement gaps leading to lost productivity
-Leaders needing new skills for future-ready workplaces

► Benefits of Working with Dr. Jennifer

Organizations that partner with me see measurable improvements in:
1. Talent Attraction & Retention- Reduce turnover and retain top performers
2. Positive Work Environments- Foster collaboration and well-being
3. Change Readiness- Equip teams to embrace transitions with confidence
4. Stronger Teamwork- Increase trust, clarity and efficiency
5. Strategic Clarity- Provide a clear roadmap for success
6. Productivity & Engagement- Unlock more energy, focus, and results

► Client Outcomes
 "Dr. Jennifer Knowles is a beacon of inspiration in leadership and talent development. Her ability to seamlessly blend research-backed insights with practical applications has consistently led to positive transformations, empowered teams, and elevated leadership capabilities.”

 "We love Dr. Jennifer. She leads with a big heart and has lots of passion for her work. She cares about us and has the gift to take complex ideas and break them down into simple steps."

► Services
1. Leadership coaching (1:1 and group)
2. Change management programs
3. Talent development workshops
4. Keynote speaking on growth, change, and leadership
5. Research-informed organizational development solutions



Jennifer Knowles, Ph.D

I recently finished teaching an innovative leadership class, and here's what I discovered: 


We can't stay comfortable and expect to thrive.

Look at these patterns:
➜ Blockbuster refused streaming
➜ Kodak ignored digital
➜ Apple embraced change

Here's what separates winners from losers:

1. Risk tolerance
➜ "That's too risky"
➜ "We've always done it this way"
➜ "Our customers won't like change"

2. Opportunity spotting
➜ "That's just a trend"
➜ "Our market is stable"
➜ "We're too big to fail"

3. Leadership mindset
➜ "Let others test it first"
➜ "We'll wait and see"
➜ "Innovation costs too much"

The reality:
➜ Innovation isn't optional
➜ Comfort kills companies
➜ Change drives growth

We must:
➜ Take calculated risks
➜ Spot emerging trends
➜ Lead through uncertainty
➜ Question everything

Stop waiting.
Start innovating.
Lead the change.

The market won't wait.
Neither should you.

📌 What innovation are you avoiding in your business or life?

Hey, no one said it's easy, but there are great things on the other side of fear 🙂

I help develop effective leaders + high-performing teams | Harvard Executive Leadership Coach | Best-Selling Author | Professor of Business | Tedx Speaker

This morning I got turned away from the gym. After I woke up at 4:50am to get there.


I forgot to sign up.

And they were full with a waitlist for the class.

So I drove home, annoyed at the girl who wouldn’t let me stay. 

Annoyed at myself for thinking I signed up when I hadn’t. 

I am not a morning person and getting up for this class was a struggle.

So here I am, writing this post. About ready to exercise at home. 

My dog is curled up near my, snuggled on a blanket. 

The house is quiet, with no kids or husband up yet causing a stir.

It is warm and cozy inside and I get to exercise while I clear my thoughts for the week. 

I get to move my body. 

My friend who recently overcame breast cancer reminded me that moving your body is a gift, and for months she had wished she could work out.

So I guess I say all of this to say- 

Look around at the small gifts around you. 

Both at work and at home, we can always choose to look at the good.

The nice co-worker who greeted you with a smile.

The driver of the car who let you in on your way to work.

The morning greeting your pet gives you when you wake up.

These moments are everywhere when we pause and look for them. 

Have a wonderful Monday and a great week.

No alternative text description for this image

From my family to yours, wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Enjoy those small moments, they are what matter the most!

📌 What is your favorite food you eat on Thanksgiving? 

(I love warm apple pie with ice cream!)

Flying somewhere for Thanksgiving? Use the silence at 35,000 ft to ask: Are you leading your life or just steering it?”

I have learned to love the undistracted time on airplane flights.

Somewhere between takeoff and landing, the noise finally stops.

Plane flights provide a time for a quiet time to evaluate and just be present with myself.

No meetings.
No notifications.
No urgent requests.
No driving kids around.
No taking the dog out. 

 Just altitude and truth. And me. 

At 35,000 ft, you get perspective.
 You see your life from above—literally—and things look different from that elevation.

You start asking:
 ✔ “Is this the life I’m intentionally leading?”
 ✔ “Or did I just end up here because I never stopped to question the pace?”
 
I think about whether I am the driver of my own car or am I in the passenger seat, moving through life and career on auto pilot. 

And I do enjoy a good movie on planes too! 

If you're traveling somewhere this Thanksgiving, I ask you - are you in the driver seat or passenger seat? 
 
📌  Are you traveling or staying home this Thanksgiving?

Safe travels!

Friday Gratitude: Want higher performance? Try appreciation first.


I watch my good friend, and countless other leaders, struggle with people at work. 

Instead of, "great job,"
he gets, "why didn't you do this."

Instead of, "let's collaborate,"
he gets, "I'm doing it my way."

And I could go on.

But what leaders need to remember is that by showing appreciation and recognition to our peers and teams, gratitude carries its weight in improved employee satisfaction and retention.

Want a good team member to stick around?

Say thank you.
Acknowledge the good.
And collaborate.

Today I'm grateful for the amazing connections I've been making on LI.

📌 What are you grateful for? 





 

📌

Friday Gratitude- This week I'm grateful for the people who make me uncomfortable.


Earlier this year, I was on a stage for "hot seat coaching." I asked a question that I needed help with in front of a stage of hundreds of people watching from the audience.

[It took me years to get enough courage to be vulnerable in front of an audience like that].

The answer surprised me. The mentor told me, "I don't think you're afraid of failing, I think you're afraid of success."

What?

I hadn't thought about that. But the more I sat with that idea, the more I realized he was right.

We focus so much on what we don't want to happen, but what if we actually got what we really wanted?

That mentor got to my core, pushing me to care enough to challenge me. 

The people who make us better. The leader, the team, the co-worker... Our kids, our spouse, our friends, or sometimes even our loyal pet. 

📌 Who are people you are grateful for who make you better?

Showing up authentically, and not just on a mug! 



When I bought this mug, my kids groaned. But then they all wanted to use it too! 

Too often, we hesitate to highlight our achievements or showcase our unique skills. 

Thoughtfully demonstrating your value isn't bragging—it's essential for both personal development and team success.

Three ways I've learned to shine authentically:

-Document your wins, both big and small
-Volunteer for projects that leverage your unique strengths
-Mentor others in your areas of expertise

When you bring your "best self" energy to work, you create new opportunities 

And buy yourself a fun mug, while you're at it. You won't regret it! 

📌What are ways you give yourself a boost at work and in life?

How I Helped Change Laws — and What It Taught Me About Leading Change Anywhere.


A few years ago, my children's lemonade got shut down by police due to a complaint and lack of permits.

This was silly. Turns out lemonade stands were technically illegal in my city and they were in cities and states across the USA.

So I rallied people together, and we got lemonade stand laws changed in Denver, kid business laws changed in Colorado, and I partnered with CountryTime Lemonade/Kraft Heinz, and we got laws changed in 17 states across the country.

All from a lemonade stand.

Here's the steps I took that can rally change anywhere- in your organization or your community:

1. Start small. Our change began with a simple question: “Why can’t kids sell lemonade legally?”

2. Gather your people. Parents, kids, community members — small voices become powerful when united.

3. Find the data. Research your case, collect stories, and back it with facts.

4. Get visible. Share your mission publicly. Change accelerates when people care.

5. Stay kind but persistent. Real change takes resilience — and a lot of follow-up and persistent.

The whole experience was a lot of fun. I couldn't have dreamed it up if I tried. 

📌 What is a time that you recognized a need for change, and rallied around the change initiative?

How was your Thanksgiving? It’s hard to believe it’s December already, which is so often a crazy busy month. 


What was your Thanksgiving about?

Mine was:
Family 
Family 
More family 
And getting some fresh air along the way!

If your extended family is anything like mine, there may have been some tensions along the way. 

Some triggers. Do I speak up? Or walk away. Which result in waking up at 3am processing countless discussions and events.

But at the end of the day, family is family. And I’m grateful for mine. 

But here we are in December. 

A scramble to the end. A whirl of busyness and finishing those goals that we set for ourselves.

I am finishing my book (yay!), wrapping up some consulting projects, mentoring some graduate students and am coaching some amazing high achieving ladies. And all the holiday stuff galore. 

(I’m married to a Clark Griswald wannabe - we take the holidays seriously!🎅🏻)

Wishing you a great week. 

📌 How was your Thanksgiving? What are you looking forward to this December?

Tuesday Teach: Want to become a better storyteller? Start with the stories you tell every day


Conduct a story audit.

Leaders and high achievers can conduct a simple audit:

 1. What story am I telling about my team?

-Are they disengaged?
-Or overwhelmed and needing support?
 
Those are two very different stories — and two very different leadership responses.

2. What story am I telling about myself as a leader?

-“I’m not ready.”
-“I’m not qualified.”
-“I should have figured this out by now.”
 
These aren’t truths — they’re unexamined stories.

3. What story am I telling about the work we’re doing?
 
-Is it “just a project”?
 -Or is it meaningful, high-impact work that changes lives?
 Your story becomes their story.

4. What story am I telling about what’s possible?

-If your internal narrative is small, your leadership will be too.

 This becomes a powerful tool for culture and performance.

We don’t just tell stories.
We become the stories our teams believe.

 
📌What is a story that you realized you told, that had a big impact on people at work?

Tuesday Teach: Lewin's Change Model. 

Here's a simple model that is easy to remember and easy to use:

Kurt Lewin's Change Model

Unfreeze - Change - Refreeze


Unfreeze: Prepare for a desired change. Identify the need for transformation and foster readiness.

Change: Implement the transformation. It’s where new processes, systems or behaviors are introduced, and teams begin adapting to the shift. 

Refreeze: Reinforce and stabilize the change.

What I like about this model is it's simplicity. Easy to remember, relatively easy to implement. 


I've been teaching my entire professional career, from teaching leadership development in organizations, to teaching graduate students about organizational performance and change, and even teaching kids how to start a business. I love teaching. 

📌 What is a consistent thing that you've done your entire career?

Morning routine: coffee, dog, quiet in the house. 


I am not a morning person. 

In college I got my second (or third wind) to study starting around 10pm.

But I get up at 5am most weekdays.

Why?

Because it’s the only way I can carve time for myself all day.

I’m fresh.
I’m alert (mostly).

I often journal, I stretch, I move my body.
I set my intentions.
And I give lots of pets to my dog who wiggles himself into just the right position for a good back scratch.

I usually choose a mug with pictures I took  so I can be reminded of happy experiences. 

And all of this really helps.

Why do I say all of this?

Because these tiny little things we can do for ourselves can help us show up and be a better version of ourselves, for work, for our family, for all of our commitments.

As I sit here with my coffee and dog, I wish you a great day!

📌What is something that you do in the morning that helps you have a good day?

6 things working moms excel at like no one else- 
[As we've entered the extra busy season for us moms, I salute you!]

When I envisioned my life, I never thought I'd become a mom of 3 boys! As a result, I've pivoted my career multiple times and reshaped my working identity numerous times. 

Here's 6 things that make working moms pretty darn awesome! 

1. Time Management Goddesses

➜ We optimize every minute of their day
➜ We can complete 3-hour tasks in 1 hour
➜ We know exactly when to tackle each responsibility

2. Professional-Personal Balance

➜ We excel at separating work mode from mom mode
➜ We create clear boundaries between office and home
➜ We maximize quality time with their children

3. Crisis Management

➜ We handle workplace deadlines and sick children simultaneously
➜ We always have a backup plan ready
➜ We remain calm under multiple pressures

4. Efficiency Champions

➜ We master the art of multitasking
➜ We develop innovative solutions to everyday challenges
➜ We streamline processes at work and home

5. Emotional Intelligence

➜ We navigate different personalities at work and home
➜ We understand and address various emotional needs
➜ We excel at conflict resolution

6. Resilience

➜ We bounce back from setbacks quickly
➜ We adapt to changing situations effortlessly
➜ We maintain their composure in challenging times

So today I salute all the working moms (and working dads too!). 

📌 Who is a working mom who inspires you? 

ps- this picture was taken after we drove 9 hours to see the USA team play. Oh, the things we do as parents!

Most people chase more.
More money. More status. More stuff.


I'm working on my next book, More Money by Friday, so I've been reading lots and lots of books on financial literacy.

As I'm reading and researching, I'm finding patterns come up over and over.

One of those patterns is that when our time, values, and work all point in the same direction, then life is better, happier, more fulfilling. 

We no longer need to fill that need of buying more stuff to satisfy that feeling of being unsatisfied.

We start living more on purpose.

The more aligned we are, the more we can take steps towards fulfillment.

Here's 4 questions to ask yourself:

1. Does the way I spend my time reflect what I say matters most?
2. Am I chasing what I want — or what others expect?
3. Where do I feel constant resistance, and what is that trying to tell me?
4. If my calendar were a mirror, would I like the reflection?

For me, this is a daily action, taking small intentional steps, to close that gap.

And suddenly, those things material things I thought I wanted don't matter as much. 

📌 When was a time when you felt fulfilled with what you have, just as things are now?

(this picture is when my family and I traveled to Istanbul earlier this year- at that moment, I didn't feel the need to chase anything- family, adventure, and fresh air and was the perfect day)

7 Small Things You Can Let Go Of (Now That the Penny Is Officially Retired)


Yesterday marked a big day in US History- the US minted their last pennies, to ever be made at the Philadelphia mint.

Last year I had a chance to tour the Philadelphia mint with my kids and see how many was actually made. Pictures weren't allowed, otherwise I would have included one! 

Did you know: 
-1 cent coins had been minted for 232 years, since 1793. Wow! 
-There are still 250 billion pennies still in circulation. 

I have lots of questions how pricing will work going forward. 

Will anything change?
Will prices change?
Will things still end in .99?
What if I own $4.97? Will the new price by $4.95 of $5.00?


This served to me as a reminder how we as change makers, organizational leaders, and professionals can let go of the old to make space for forward movement: 

Here are 7 small things we can let go of.

1. Old expectations
The ones you outgrew but still feel obligated to honor.

2. Perfection as a standard
It’s not excellence—it’s self-punishment.

3. Doing everything yourself
High-performers often carry invisible loads. Delegation is not weakness.

4. Guilt for wanting “more”
More time, more money, more rest, more joy…it’s allowed.

5. Outdated identities
You don’t have to be who you were last year, last month, or last job.

6. Saying yes to protect others from being uncomfortable
You’re not responsible for managing everyone else’s emotions.

7. The belief that change must be big to matter
Small shifts — are the ones that compound.

A penny for your thoughts: (pun intended!)
📌 Which one (#1 -7) most resonates with you?  

For me, as a professional who's always busy doing so much, #4 resonates the most- guilt for wanting more, including an often needed nap!

Today is a humble share for my 14 year old son, Ben (proud Mama, here!). He wrote a book! If you or a family member likes sports, please consider checking it out and writing a review. It's free today on kindle! 


My son started writing this book earlier this year, and it became a labor of love. He loves sports and in honor of celebrating his 100th episode of his podcast, Footballing with Kids, he wanted to release it today. And it's free! 

The direct link to write a review in the comments. 

Or if you enjoy sports or know someone who does, this book is lots of fun and covers soccer, football, basketball and baseball! 

It takes about 5 amazon reviews to get a book started for credibility and visibility.  And the more people who get the book (it’s free today!) on the same day, the more it also helps with Amazon rankings! 

For anyone who gets his book (it's free today!) and reviews it, I'd be happy to show you what I know for writing books and will invite you to a book writing session - just message me! (the kids and I have been on a roll lately writing books!)

Wishing you a great day before Thanksgiving. I hope it’s not too hectic for you!

https://lnkd.in/gPZn66Hy

Open article: Would You Rather? Kids Sports Edition: The Ultimate Game for Kids Who Love Soccer, Football, Baseball and Basketball (Would You Rather: Kids Edition) by amazon.com

Would You Rather? Kids Sports Edition: The Ultimate Game for Kids Who Love Soccer, Football, Baseball and Basketball (Would You Rather: Kids Edition)

Ever feel like a fraud? Good news, it means you're growing.


I've worked with people from all levels- MD's, CEO's, mid-managers, and new moms, and one thing that everyone has in common?

Everyone questions themselves sometimes.

The only group I don't see this as much in?
Kids.

Why is that kids go for what they want, and we encourage it?
I want to be a baseball player- great!
I want to be an astronaut- amazing!
I want to be a movie star- go for it!

But when we become adults, we question what we want, who we are, and what we're doing in our career.

Here's what I'm discovering:

You can have doubt and still deliver.
You can have fear and still lead.
You can have imposter syndrome — and still make an impact.

📌 When was a time when you doubted yourself, and you did it anyway?

Tuesday Teach: The Kaleidoscope Career Model shows us how our careers change and shift over time due to alternating priorities in authenticity, balance, and challenge.  


Like a kaleidoscope shifts patterns, so does our priorities in our career.

I devoted my dissertation research to applying the kaleidoscope career model to examining high achieving women's careers. 

What I found interesting is that for most men and women, we start our careers out with similar priorities- focusing primarily on challenge. 

But as time progresses, the difference in priorities change between men and women. Women tend to focus on balance, and then authenticity later in their career. 

Men's patterns stay in challenge longer, and then focus on authenticity and the balance. 

Makes sense- in a traditional work environment, often a women's career gets put in the back burner as she sacrifices bits of her career to focus on family and other priority.

Life and career becomes a balancing act.

📌 Knowing that we are a bit of all three, what is your main focus now?  authenticity, balance, or challenge?

(I'm so happy to share this with you! I have been teaching my entire life- from teaching in corporations to teaching in universities, to teaching children how to create their own businesses. It's fun!)

Lately I’ve been working with high-performing teams, and here’s what I've discovered first hand about organizational culture:


Culture isn’t a vibe. It’s a system that determines whether people rise or retreat.

Look at these examples we can all learn from:

➜ Google’s Project Aristotle
 The teams who felt safe to speak up weren’t just happier—they were higher performing. Safety fuels success.

➜ Microsoft under Satya Nadella
 When leaders shifted from “prove yourself” to “grow yourself,” innovation exploded. Culture changed → results changed.

➜ Uber’s culture overhaul
 
Toxicity cost billions. Culture wasn’t a side problem—it was the foundation crack.

Here’s what winning cultures do differently:

1. Safety > Fear
They encourage people to say the brave thing, not the comfortable thing.

2. Learning > Blame
They ask, “What can we learn?” instead of, “Who do we blame?”

3. Ownership > Excuses
They solve problems together instead of pushing responsibility around.

The deeper truth:
 ➜ Culture is created every day
 ➜ People follow the energy of leadership
 ➜ Trust multiplies results

If you want a team that’s engaged and productive, start here:

✔ Create psychological safety
 ✔ Reward curiosity and courage
 ✔ Celebrate accountability
 ✔ Model the behavior you want others to mirror

People don’t leave companies—they leave cultures that don’t support who they are.

I have left organizations because of the culture, and I have also stayed at them  because I was a "fit." 

📌 Where has organizational culture either helped you or hindered you at work? 

📌 📌 Book Recommendation: I learned all about organizational culture in my PhD program, and have since taught it to many others. Here's a great book to put on your check out and implement: Organizational Culture in Leadership by Edgar Schein.

Did you know today is 11-11 and Veterans Day? 

I went to the post office, and it took me a few minutes to figure out why the post office wasn't open.

And then somebody told me it was 11-11. And then she told me that 11-11 is a spiritual number and is often viewed as an "angel number," and a sign of a day to make a wish or set an intention. 

And I woke up today just thinking it was another day. 

So I started to wonder who these two events today are connected.

Veterans align action to mission (thank you veterans!)
11:11 represents alignment of self to higher purpose.  

Strong leadership happens when your outer service reflects your inner values. And when the external is aligned with the internal, then are aligned at work, and in life.

So Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans, and thank you for protecting our country. And on 11-11, may all your wishes come true!

📌 What is something you're aligning to on 11-11?
📌 📌 Do you have a veteran in your life you can thank today? 

ps- I took this last summer in Washington DC, near Arlington Cemetery, which was humbling and beautiful

Career Advancement Advisor | Creator of the Career Moves Advisory | Speaker |

Conversations have the power to change lives. 
Strangers become friends.  New ideas bloom.  Complex problems are solved. Inspiration is found. 

At the heart of every professional interaction, there lies a conversation. 

It’s in the unique conversation dynamic of an interview that I have spent thousands of hours exchanging questions and answers with professionals and executives. 

During my 28 years of corporate leadership and recruiting, I crafted sustainable talent acquisition policies and processes that paved the way for my recruiting team members to hire thousands of people. 👭🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏿

I’ve watched life-changing conversations happen.

When I leapt from my corporate career to founding Spectacle Talent Partners, I had a choice. 
I could stay in my conversation comfort zone or begin new conversations.

I was uncomfortable without a title and a company next to my name, it was just me. 

Because I’m the 4th of 5 kids, I learned the value of my own voice early as well as the blessing of a community who was rooting for you to succeed. 

So I muffled my inner critic 🤐 and began casual conversations and then intentionally using my voice to share my knowledge, my own stories as well as learning from others.  

The same way that I learned recruiting from the ground up, I learned that online conversations can lead to offline conversations.

They are the gateway to new opportunities, professional growth, broader horizons and career advancement. 🌄

I transformed from a LinkedIn observer to a LinkedIn Top Voice without focusing on the algorithm, instead I focus on…you guessed it…conversations. 🗝️

Today, corporate clients come to me when they want to streamline processes and attract more qualified candidates.  

Executives come to me when they want a recruitment partner 🤝 working for them to demystify the interviewing, negotiating and hiring processes.  

Let’s start a conversation: susan@spectacletalentpartners.com

Kind words from clients:  
Sue, thanks for easing me out of the fetal position when it comes to LinkedIn!  You helped me find the mindset and confidence to join the conversation with purpose and connect with some great people I wouldn't have met otherwise. You've changed my perspective from social for self to social for good! - Daphne (Career Advisory client)

Sue – Thank you for your incredible advice. You taught me so much and I will forever be thankful for collaborating with you. Your guidance was a huge reason I landed this incredible opportunity. You Rock!!! - Bob T. (Career Advisory client)

Susan Gygax

I had a phone conversation just before the CEO ended her role in a brief Friday morning meeting.
My recommendation: 
Be kind and concise when you tell them of one thing that you accomplished that you’re particularly proud of. 

Not because it’ll change their minds, 
Because it reminds you of how powerful you are. 

You weren’t powerful because of the job.
⤷ Your title was always rented.

The work you accomplished,
The lives you have changed,
That’s your legacy. 

→ The ones who will tell their kids about you when they remember how they started.
→ The ones who smile when they meet someone with the same name as you. 

They remember that you were the one who believed in them before they believed in themselves. 

Yeah, it’s a bummer so feel all the feels. 

You may be replaceable...
You are never, ever, never repeatable.

When it’s Thanksgiving week and my to do list longer than a CVS receipt
[Why I scrapped the Thanksgiving turkey]

When our kids were young, planning thanksgiving was simple because there was one schedule.

The family schedule. It had a rhythm. 

Thanksgiving was a mix of car rides, cooking and time with family. 
Some years we spent more hours on the road than in the kitchen. 
(I don’t miss the 9 hours in the car travelling from Virginia to Connecticut.)
 
Today, it’s 4 schedules. 
Which is why I scrapped the turkey. We’re going with steak.  
Plus the yummy Thanksgiving sides. 
It’s not traditional, but sometimes tradition needs a mini-makeover. 
 
P.S. Anything that gives me more time to play games, I’m in. 
 
Are you spending time on the road this week?

Waiting for a response to your “I’m just following up” email? 
We’ve all felt the angst of waiting after a promising interview. 

“I wanted to check in” email is like trying to make the elevator move faster by pressing the button 6 gallian times while you decide if you are supposed to make eye contact with the stranger standing a little too close to you. 

 Send this email instead:
 
 Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],
 
 I enjoyed our discussion about [Position] [date/yesterday].
 
I [was inspired by/resonated with] our conversation and how you are able to [subject mentioned in interview]. 

The challenge you mentioned regarding [specific
problem/project] stood out, as it closely parallels a situation at [previous
company]. 

While I was there, I was able to [outcome of effort] which eliminated/reduced] [pain – what impact did it have?]. 

I'm enthusiastic about the possibility of joining your team and tackling these challenges together.
 
 Kind regards,
 [First name Last name]
 [phone number]
  
 
The difference: you’re not looking for a reply, you’re continuing the conversation. 
⤷ Swap out the boring email for a mini-conversation that keeps you top of mind. 

P.S. Click “save this post” using the three dots in the right corner so you can have a handy reminder before you send that email.

Serious elevator question: do you say hello or stand there in silence?  You don't want to be rude and you don't want to interrupt whatever it is they are doing on their phone.  Or maybe you split the difference with a polite head nod? 

Photo is a from our trip to France and Spain a few years ago.  Me trying to emulate the ever-lovely Audrey Hepburn.  It didn't work out so well.

A colleague joked, “Running to another hiring emergency?” 
[it bugged me because she was right]

It was a hectic, too-much-to-do and not-enough-time day as a newly promoted recruiting leader. 

I laughed as I continued to fast walk through the hall. 
It was a little funny and a lot true.  
 
Executives would show up at my door with urgent requests:
→A budget finally approved.
→A project falling behind.
→A new initiative needing people yesterday.

I took every request seriously. Rearranged priorities. Adjusted projects midstream. Played detective in the applicant tracking system. 
⤷I was more anxious parent than skilled practitioner. 

She helped me realize that the problem wasn’t the requisition load, it was the lack of structure. 

I shifted from firefighter to player-coach so we could carry on with the workload using simple, repeatable processes. 

Over time: 
Leaders gave compliments instead of complaints.
⤷ the COO came down to speak to the team to thank them

Data replaced guesswork.
⤷ Data is the backbone of a story, it stands it up

Recruiters became trusted advisors, not task-jugglers.
⤷ Every recruiter can be an advisor when they have the skills and tools
 
It’s true that you can’t manage what you can’t measure
And I learned that you can’t coach if you’re only playing defense.
 
What’s your take on the player/coach model? 
 
P.S. I’m a fast walker, even in heels. Maybe one day I’ll be in a mall-loop group.

“It’s weird talking about yourself online”
[my take is slightly different]
 
I’ll cut right to it:
We like talking about ourselves, but we don’t like making it about ourselves. 
 
When you post online, it feels like you’re making the conversation about you. 
And that feels…awkward.
 
When you’re in a conversation, you have a back and forth, an unwritten contract of mutual sharing.
 
When you post online, you are starting a conversation.
And in order to do that, you have to jumpstart a dialogue out of thin air. 
[Which you’ve done dozens of times on the sideline of the soccer field or volleyball court or holiday concert. ]

It feels weird until you realize that it’s not about you, but it does start with you. 

Where was the last place you jumpstarted a conversation out of thin air? 
 
P.S. A few of the kind comments I received after a 15 minute call. These are not clients, these are people who decided that their professional career was worth a short conversation with an experienced corporate talent acquisition leader. 

P.P.S. It’s like calling the plumber without the $185/hr price tag. Chances are you can see there’s a problem, you’re just not sure where the problem starts.

You’ve been heads down for the last 5, 8, 11 years and suddenly you’re thrown into a job market that's changing fast.

Here’s 2 things that haven’t changed about interviews:
 
  1. First impressions still matter
 
 68% of people think their first impressions are accurate 
 [one study found 85% of people believed in the accuracy of their first impression].
 
What you can do before your next interview: Decide what you want that to be because you are 100% in control of your first impression. 

 2. The interviewer wants you to use “I” more than you use “We”.
 
Drop “we” as a main character in your story, opt for “I”. 
Interviewers want to know what you led/designed/redesigned. 
 
What you can do before your next interview: Check your stories for overuse of “we”. The interviewer is most curious about you, not your whole team. 

P.S. Collaboration is included in every JD.  Yet, in an interview, if every answer is “we did” “we evaluated” “we created the initiative” ...
It's the very reason you are not moving forward.

 What's one way you like to make a memorable first impression? 
=
Hi, I’m Sue. I'm a former corporate recruiting leader. If you aren’t getting through the interview process and you keep hearing that someone is more qualified, it's likely that person took the time to figure out how to easily help others see their qualifications even in a 30 minute interview. 

(photo: Thanksgiving 2020)

How would you describe your leadership style in 3 words…
When I interview corporate leaders, I often ask this question. 
 
The follow up question: What 3 words would your direct reports use to describe your leadership?

The answer matters less than your ability to answer with confidence. 
It’s like being asked your street address. 
⤷you may not have been thinking about it, but you know it so well that you can respond instantly.
 
It reveals 2 leadership qualities:  
1. Self-awareness: Leaders who know themselves build stronger teams.
2. Others-awareness: Leaders who understand how they’re perceived build healthier teams.
 
What’s one word you’re proud to have consistently associated with your leadership?

100 Networking Calls and No Job Leads?
[the one where you're talking to the wrong people]

Making tons of connections?
Having great conversations?

Yet…getting zero opportunities?

If you’re feeling productive but seeing not results, you may be treating all connections the same. 

Step 1. Identify your In-Boat people.
⤷Peers, colleagues, people facing your same challenges. They are your sounding board.

Step 2.  Find your Out-of-Boat people.
⤷Authority, influence, access to opportunities. They are your needle movers.

Step 3: Adjust your conversation based on the type.
⤷In-Boat: Share challenges, exchange tactics. 

⤷Out-of-Boat: Ask targeted questions, make specific requests.

The best networking isn't about quantity.
⤷It's about knowing when to talk and when to listen.

P.S. In my experience with clients, most people spend 80% of their time with In-Boat connections because they feel easier and more comfortable.

But comfort doesn't create opportunities.

What's the ratio of your last 10 networking conversations?

P.P.S. Do I look like I know what I'm doing? I'm hoping to offset my beginner skills with a very serious face.  (spoiler: I still lost)

Lunch interview with the EVP…do you immediately think “Let’s go!” or “Oh no!”
Phew, you made it through 3 rounds. 
Just one more to go and it’s a lunch with the EVP. 

Pros: 
→ More casual atmosphere
→ Gives you something to do with your hands
→ Free lunch! 

Cons:
→ Feels awkward, maybe even like a test
→ You have to actually eat
→ Not knowing how formal the interview questions will be. 
 
You’ve been on both sides of the lunch interview. 
Which camp are you in? 
“Yes, I love them”
Or
 “No, I don’t want to add “deciding on lunch” to my interview prep”
==
Hi. I’m Sue. I’m a former corporate recruiting leader working alongside senior leaders who want to tell a compelling story in their next interview. 

Curious how you can do that without worrying you’re talking too much? Let’s talk. A 15 minute call could save you a whole week of the wrong kind of preparation.

A commercial can make me teary eyed
During the 2014 Superbowl, Bud ran a commercial called “Puppy Love” 
I’m not a beer drinker, but a puppy adoption and a Clydesdale?
I never stood a chance. 
 
Clydesdales are stunning creatures. And, a puppy adoption pulls every heart string. 

I’m still not a beer drinker because it's difficult to influence someone who doesn’t already want the thing you have.  And, it's a good reminder that landing a job you want is understanding which of the 5 core problems the company already wants to solve. 

P.S. CEOs don’t solve all their problems; they solve expensive ones. 
⤷I’ll put the 5 core problems below so you can decide which one of their expensive problems they already want to solve. 
 
Speaking of those commercials that tug at heart strings. Do you remember the Folger’s commercial when the son comes home from the military?  

Is there a commerical that gets you every time? 

(photo credit: horseillustrated.com)

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