I’m passionate about empowering women and helping to close the gender gap in senior leadership. 

I spent 18 years in tech and biotech sales, holding positions as a VP and EVP, Sales. Along the way I introduced many brand new technologies to market, built a commercial organization from scratch, and scaled a hyper-growth team to achieve 9 digit revenue growth in 2 years.

Despite this success, I struggled for years with my transition from Manager to Director to VP, and even asked myself if I was cut out to be a senior executive.  

Finally, I ‘figured it out’ and had the confidence, knowledge and skills that I needed to be an impactful leader. 

My mission at Insights to Action is to help others get there by sharing what I’ve learned.

I want to use my passion to help more women transition to senior leadership and help leaders make that leap from unsure and unfocused to strategic, decisive and outcome driven - all without burning out. My goal is to help women thrive as executives, instead of merely surviving. 

I would love to work with you on your journey and look forward to connecting!

Read about what some of my clients are saying: https://www.insightstoactioncc.com/testimonials

Katy McFee

I help women become execs and thrive in leadership - Former Exec | Certified Coach | Forbes.com contributor

At Insights to Action I help female execs and aspiring female leaders become the leaders they want to be and thrive as executives all without burning out. 

I offer group coaching programs for women looking to break through to executive leadership and 1:1 immersive executive coaching for current execs who want to level up and show up as the amazing, effective leaders they know they can be, while still living a life they love.

I hear, "Women don't advocate for themselves"
 
And my thought is "Why the heck would we?"
 
Growing up, we were called bossy when we showed leadership
And praised for keeping our mouths shut and sitting quietly...
 
Later, we were told that our value was in our appearance 
And not in what we had to say...
 
And once we got to the corporate world? 
 
We faced the likeabilty backlash and the ambition penalty

If you haven't heard these terms,
 
This backlash occurs when women: 
- negotiate 
- seek out promotions 
- share their success 
- openly pursue ambitious careers
 
Crazy right? 

But... not advocating is only hurting us
It's costing us opportunities and career advancement

And we need to change the narrative on speaking up
 
If you're a woman, I'm here to remind you: 

You're allowed to be ambitious 
You're allowed to want more money 
You SHOULD advocate for yourself 
 
And you should do it all unapologetically 

✌️💜

♻️ Hit 'repost' if more women need to hear this.

#1 in helping women become VPs and thrive in leadership | Former Exec | Certified Coach | Forbes.com contributor | Host of More Women Promoted Podcast

Ladies, we've been lied to about each other

There's a narrative that all women are competitive and catty,

That we hold each other back,
Sabotage one another,
Tear each other down,

That we're all just a bunch of mean girls

And honestly, I don't see it

I've spoken to so many successful women 
Who credit female mentors and sponsors for their success

It was almost always other women who helped them reach the C-suite

And my experience with women is no different

Sadly, when I was in leadership I didn't really know any more senior women to be my mentors and sponsors

But when I was new to the world of entrepreneurship
I had no network. Nada. So I put myself out there....

And I've met so many new women over the last few years
Who have helped me create a successful business

They've all been inspiring, supportive, and encouraging

In fact, I'm friends with women who are technically my direct competitors
And we help one another!

We cheer each other on
And we all grow

I've built a community of women in my private membership
And these women are one another's biggest cheerleaders

So let's stop spreading this narrative

Because most women want to lift one another up

Are there some bad apples?
Of course!

There will always be some women (and men) who don't support
Who sabotage each other or hold others back

But it's a minority

And this narrative isn't helping anyone
Certainly not women

So I vote we change it

Who's with me? ✌️💜

PS. If you haven't been lucky enough to have supportive women to guide your career, you're in the right place. 

A bit part of my mission is the communities of women I create - communities that let you level up, hit your goals AND find your tribe. If you want to learn more, send me a DM. 

*I didn't know any of the women in these photos 4 years ago!

Things I didn't do this morning:
- read
- meditate 
- cold plunge
- visualizations
- intermittent fast
- start my day with lemon water instead of coffee

And despite my less than perfect morning…

I'm still ‘successful’. 

Don't get me wrong, all of the things on that list are wonderful ways to start your day

If you start your day like this, kudos to you!

But we're all in different seasons...

In this season of my life, 
I exercise and meditate in the morning 5 days a week

And one day a week I take a total break from my routine (usually Sunday)

As for the rest of the list....
Maybe one day, but for now 3 kids and 2 dogs keep me busy enough ;)

And here's the thing:
For almost all of my professional career
I didn't do ANY of these things in the morning

My only goal was to get everyone fed and out the door alive

And yet, I've been able to build a great life that includes professional success.

My point is this:
If you've yet to master the 'perfect' morning routine, 
Don't beat yourself up.

There are many ways to start your day and still be successful, 
Whatever that may mean to you.

In case you need to hear this, I’m officially giving you permission to cut yourself some slack 

You're allowed to choose a huge coffee and couch hang over being productive on this beautiful Sunday
✌️💜

Let's normalize a max number of meetings a day

Let's make it 4. Maybe 5. MAX. 

If someone already has 5 meetings in their calendar, you can't book another one

Because if we REALLY want to promote mental health and avoid burnout

We can't also ask people to do workdays with 10 back-to-back meetings

I've been there.

12-16 meetings in a single day

No time to eat. 
No time to get your actual 'work' done.
And when the day is over, your head is spinning.

Too many women I know spend their whole day in meetings
And do their actual work in the evenings

That's bullshit.

Let's just stop doing that to people.

Who's in? ✌️💜

Hit 'repost' to spread the word

It's easy to forget just how far you've come

Because too often, as soon as you hit a goal,
You create a new one... a little further away

You celebrate for a moment
And then you're back at it

I was thinking about my own journey recently and it really hit me

I grew up a shy little girl who just wanted people to like her
In highschool, I couldn't give a speech in front of my class without turning beet red and losing my breath

When I think about how proud past me would be if she were here,
It puts things in a whole new perspective

What if we measured our success by how much we've grown,
And everything we've accomplished in our own life...

Instead of worrying about what other people are doing?

That little girl in you doesn't care that your neighbour has a nicer car,
Or that you're not everything in life perfectly.

That little girl in you is just so damn proud of what you've become ✌️💜 

____________________________________________________

I'm Katy McFee, former VP and EVP turned leadership coach. I help women smash the glass ceiling and thrive as senior leaders. DM me to learn how I can help you, too.

I flew to Dublin from Canada for the weekend 

Seems crazy for a weekend, but it was 100% worth it to me

Why? Because there is nothing like spending time with the right people

There's nothing more valuable than finding your tribe
And allowing them to challenge and support you

It's been hard for me to find these people
Most of my longtime friends can't relate to my business, ambitions or challenges

And you may wonder why that matters
But I really believe it does. Especially for women

Because there are so few of us:
- With big ambitions
- In senior levels of leadership
- Running 7-figure businesses

And not only is that lonely AF
It also puts us at a disadvantage strategically

I came home from the weekend with new clarity into what I needed to do
And answers to some of the challenges that I've been struggling with

Not only that - my cup was overflowing ❤️ 

I'm curious - have you found your tribe?
Give a shoutout to your work or business besties!
✌💜 

__________________________________

I'm Katy McFee, former VP and EVP turned leadership coach. I help women land first-time VP roles and thrive as senior execs. 

If you're a VP or C-level executive who's been trying to find your tribe, DM me to learn more about a unique, invite-only group I'm creating.

Red flags I ignored for YEARS:

- Getting sick regularly, and getting VERY sick at least 1-2 x a year
- Needing coffee to wake up and wine every night to decompress
- Dry skin patches on my face
- A 10cm ovarian cyst

The writing was on the wall... I was headed for burnout,

And I didn't even realize it.

Because I didn't recognize that these were all signs of too much stress in my life

When I eventually did burn out, it was brutal
I was not my normally happy, energetic self
 
In fact, I was more mentally fragile than I'd ever been
And I didn't know how to snap out of it.

This was not something that could be cured with a week in Mexico. 
In fact, it took over a YEAR to get back to myself.

I'm sharing this so you don't make the same mistake I did and ignore the signs.

Other common signs to watch for are:
- having difficulty sleeping
- heart palpitations
- GI issues

Was it worth sacrificing my health just to make someone else a bunch of money and hope for a promotion?

No, my friends, it was not.

Life is short. Your career is long. 
Put yourself first. ✌️💜

Follow me Katy McFee for more posts on women in leadership

__________________________________________________

Hi, I'm Katy. I'm a former VP and EVP who's on the mission to close the gender gap by helping women land their first VP role and thrive as executives. Follow me for more posts on women in leadership

The long-term impact of a toxic boss is SCARY

The problem is, you keep telling yourself:

"6 more months and I'll look for something else"
"It's really not that bad..."
"I can't make this kind of money anywhere else"

But you don't realize that the impact of working in this type of environment follows you long after you leave

Even once you're in a new job with a great boss...
Or you have that promotion you've dreamed of...

You're doubting yourself.

You're holding back from making decisions and wondering if you're any good at your job.

What's going on?

All of those times your boss made you feel inadequate left a mark,

Each time you were undermined or devalued... 
Those events chipped away at the confidence you once had.

And now you - the person who used to be so confident - wonder if you're cut out for this...

I have seen this happen to SO MANY people.
And it takes a lot of work to get that confidence back again.

This is a friendly reminder that if you're in an unsupportive, toxic work environment, 
It's not worth sticking it out for another year.

Your self-worth is just more important.

And if you're in the scenario I've described above, know you're not alone.

Recognizing the root cause is the first step to working through this and regaining your confidence ✌️💜

♻️ Hit repost to spread the word.

My friends, here's the cold, hard truth:

No one cares about your career as much as you do.

Certainly not your manager. 

Yet I still hear people complain that their manager isn't helping them get promoted.

If you leave your future in someone else's hands,
You'll likely end up disappointed.

It's up to you to make the future you want happen. 

But here's the silver lining:

No one else SHOULD be deciding your path, 
because you're the one who has to live it!

I've had smart, talented people working for me, who wanted ME to map out their career path

That's just NOT a good idea

Because you and I may be passionate about very different things.
You may hate doing the same things that light me up
And vice versa

Can your boss help you identify strengths and weaknesses?

You bet.

But you are the one who needs to create the vision for your career 
AND make it happen.

That may mean investing in your development outside of work
It may mean finding a new mentor or coach
It may even mean a new job

The first step is to take radical accountability for your career.
The second is to aim as high as your heart's desire.

And if landing a director or VP role is part of that vision, 
And you're not sure where to start
Book a free strategy call with me personally here: https://lnkd.in/dqAvbyu9 
✌️💜

PS. I rarely offer these calls, but my salesperson is on mat leave, so here's your chance ;)

_____________________________________________

I'm Katy, former VP and EVP turned executive coach. I'm #1 in helping women land that first-time VP role and thrive there, without burning out. Follow me for all things women in leadership.

There are 2 types of people in this world:

Those who end the year with 20 unused vacation days
And are constantly being told they need to use them or lose them

And those who use every single vacation day they get

I, my friends, am the latter

I always have been

I remember talking to a friend of mine, also in leadership

She was talking about how her company was going to pay out her vacation because she had far too many days that she was never going to able to use them

I was sharing that I often used my days faster than I accrued them
I had a young family, and it was important to me to take time off and create memories with them

And here's the thing: we BOTH ended up becoming executives
And we both had successful careers

The reason I share this, is that as women, we put WAY too much pressure on ourselves

We think we need to do it all, and never get a break
We try so hard to ensure we're seen as committed

But ladies, depriving yourself of time off or vacations does not guarantee you an exec role

In fact, I'd argue they aren't even related

You can go through life like my friend did, never taking a day off
Or you can take every day you get

And you can be successful either way
So choose what's right for you ✌️💜

I'm headed to Mexico today with one of my besties - we do this girls trip every year and it is SO worth it! I'll be back in a week, walking slower, cup full.

My boss thought I'd never be a VP

Guess what? He was wrong.

6 months later, I was rocking a VP role. 
And doing it well. 

What changed?

3 things changed my trajectory:

1. I worked with a coach

This person was ultimately the one who helped me see that I was in the wrong place.

I've learned over the years that coaching almost always gives me a 10X return. 
This is just one example of it. 

2. I changed my mindset

By that point, my confidence was shot. I had stopped believing that I was a great executive, and that was impacting how I was showing up. 

I needed to work through that before it was going to happen for me.

Once I did that, a new opportunity practically fell into my lap.

3. I got support

I didn't try to figure this out on my own. I asked for help. I asked for feedback.

I created my own 'personal board of directors' so I could bounce ideas and get support. 

The company I joined as a VP was already crushing it, but needed sales culture, some good processes, and the right people and structure.

This is where I came in. 
And we achieved 9-digit growth over 2 years.

Imagine I had given up...

This is your friendly reminder that sometimes you're just in the wrong place.

And also, that coaches are awesome ;) ✌️💜

You'll never get promoted to VP with director-level habits
 
This is something many people miss
Because when we think 'habits' we usually don't think about our habits at work
 
But these small, automatic behaviours may be communicating that you're not ready for that next level
 
Things like:
Documenting decisions vs. documenting logic
 
Or asking for resources vs. framing the trade-off
 
In today's newsletter, I share 5 habits that signal you're VP-ready (or not)
 
And I break them down to clearly explain the difference between the director-level habit and the VP-level habit
 
If you're looking to step into a VP role
This may be game-changing for you
 
Happy reading ✌️💜

The following is an excerpt from my FREE Weekly Insights Newsletter. Subscribe now, and you’ll immediately get the full article delivered to your inbo

Open article: 5 Habits That Signal You're VP-Ready by Katy McFee • 3 min read

I've been there. 
Staying in a role, 
Working my a$$ off
Hoping for a promotion that never comes.

If you're wondering whether to stick it out or move on, there are 5 signs your boss isn't planning to promote you:

1. Limited feedback
If you ask for feedback and all you get is, "Keep doing what you're doing" this is probably not a good thing!

If your boss sees potential in you, they'll share constructive feedback to help you get better 

Tip: Ask your boss to provide you with more specific feedback about what they see as your next role, and how ready you are. 

2. No stretch assignments
Stretch assignments are often a way for your manager to see how you operate at the next level. 

If you aren't getting anything outside of your scope, this might be a sign that they aren't thinking of you. 

Hint: Ask for a stretch assignment if it's not being offered. 

3. Absent career conversations
If you aren't talking about your career progression, there's a good chance they are not thinking about it. 

Tip: Take the initiative and bring up this conversation. 

4. Short-term focus
A lack of long-term focus can mean that you're seen as temporary and not as a long-term prospect within your organization or team. 

Tip: Have a conversation about your longer term goals at the company, and engage your manager in supporting you. 

5. No investment in your development
If your manager is not investing in your growth and providing resources or training to help you get better, it may be a sign that they aren't trying to develop you for the next level.

Tip: Take matters into your own hands! If your manager won't invest in you, invest in yourself. 

Remember, you don't have to wait for your boss to decide your future. 

You can take control and initiate a career development conversation. 

You might not be on their radar today, but you can change that! 

✌️💜

5 signs your boss is not going to promote you

You speak up, volunteer for high-profile projects and present confidently
 
You're known and liked... but still getting passed over
 
What the heck is going on??
 
I was thinking about this recently, because I talk a lot about the importance of creating visibility
 
And I realized that there's a key element I've been leaving out:
The type of visibility matters
 
Most women toggle between reactive visibility and performative visibility
 
And neither of these are going to get you what you want
 
In today's newsletter, I break down the 3 types of visibility
And explain why visibility itself isn't the goal - leverage is
 
Happy reading ✌️💜

Open article: Visibility Is Not the Goal - Leverage Is by Katy McFee • 2 min read

Here's the big secret I wish I knew as a director

When I was frustrated and headed towards burnout:

Manager and director level is the #1 place people get 'stuck'. 

The challenge for me, and so many others is that what got you here, 
Is NOT what will get you to the next level.

In fact, what got you here is exactly what will keep you stuck. 

What do I mean?

Early in your career, you're rewarded for being a strong executor. 

Work hard, 
Do the right things, 
Execute flawlessly 
And you'll be successful.

Many people continue to run this same playbook, and then wonder why they can't get promoted past a manager or director level.

But what no one has told you, is that at the director/VP level
You're expected to suddenly have a very different set of skills.

Focusing on execution is no longer what makes you successful

Now you need to think about your function on a broader level, 
You need to be strategic in how you approach ideas and exercise the right judgement.

You need to be thinking more, and doing less. 

Not everyone can make this jump
But for most people, once they learn the new way, they're able to start showing up as a leader who has space, focuses on the right things, and gets promoted. 

If you're struggling here, I want to personally invite you to my workshop happening at 12pm ET TODAY. Check out the comments for the sign up link.

Remember, executing the same playbook that got you promoted to manager is not going to get you to the next level.

Less doing 
More thinking.

You got this! ✌️💜

"I'm SO busy!" "Back-to-back meetings all day!" "Work's crazy!"

These statements have become a badge of honour.

Can we talk about healthy boundaries?

As someone who was not always great at this, I get it.

It's easy to feel like you just need to push through this next month or quarter, 
And then things will start to ease up.

I told myself the same thing for years.

But here's the thing, they never actually ease up.

Just as in your personal life, it's important to set boundaries in our professional lives.

This may look different for different people - the key is to decide what works for you

Here are a few ideas:

- Blocking off your lunch hour to take a walk outside
- Starting your morning intentionally and not looking at email until 9am
- Fully unplugging from work on the weekends to focus on yourself
- Setting a maximum # of meetings per day and sticking to it
- Eating dinner with the family every night, no phone

Life is short. Your career is long. Put yourself first. ✌️💜

Which of these are you implementing?

_____________________________________________
♻️ Repost to help others!

I'm Katy, former EVP turned leadership coach. I help women get their seat at the table and thrive there. Follow me for all things women in leadership.

Being too 'productive' held me back from promotions

And most of the women I know get caught in this trap too.

I get it... You're the person who gets sh!t done!

When something needs to get done, 
Everyone knows they can give it to you 
And trust that you won't drop the ball...

You crank out work like no one else
And take pride that your output is so much more than that of your colleagues

So then, why did that last promotion not go to you??

This was me, and it's so many of the women I know.

Here's what I learned (the long and painful way):

Output doesn't get you promoted

Sharing the right insights and demonstrating exec-level judgement does

And a big part of that is ensuring people know the value you're bringing

When the women in my program learn this
They quickly go from indispensable and appreciated (but stuck)
To getting tapped for that next VP role

Want to learn how? 
I'm doing my most-loved workshop live, one week from today:
From Invisible to Influential: The 4-step recognition framework

Grab your spot here: https://lnkd.in/dkkusymd 

You're doing the work, so let's get you recognized. ✌️💜

I went from never unplugging to multiple vacations a year

And let me tell you, I'll never go back!

But for years, I was so afraid to unplug.
Although I took vacations, I was constantly on Slack and email.

I was rarely fully present.

If this sounds familiar, I get it.
I see you. I WAS you. 

It can feel as though priorities are never-ending 
And there's never a good time to take a vacation.

So, here are 5 things I learned in the last 20 years that I hope will make you think:

1. No one at work notices when you spend your whole vacation working. Seriously. 

And even if they do, it's soon forgotten. 

2. No one remembers the length of your mat leave. If you choose to cut it short out of guilt (I'm mostly thinking of my Euro and Canadian ladies here), no one will really remember long-term. 

So take the time you want.

3. The only people who will remember you working that whole vacation? Your family. 

And guess what? They're the ones who care more about you than anyone in the world. 
And they'll never lay you off.
Prioritize them. 

4. People who are rested and take breaks/ vacations are more focused, creative, and productive. 

Believe it or not, showing up as your best self at work is easier when you take breaks.
Take breaks daily. Schedule vacations.
Consider it a strategy. 

5. Delegating to your team not only frees up your time, it also allows them to gain visibility and recognition.

Make work better for both of you and give up some damn control. 

Tomorrow I fly home from my favourite place to vacation in Mexico
I spent the week doing a bit of work, but mostly doing:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Sound baths
- Cacao ceremonies
- Eating amazing food
- Hanging with my bestie

And I have my next 3 trips planned already
Some business, some pleasure, and all because I love it.

Anyone else? ✌️💜

__________________________________________________

Hi, I'm Katy. I'm a former VP and EVP who's on the mission to close the gender gap by helping women land their first VP role and thrive as executives. Follow me for more posts on women in leadership

Have you heard of the simplicity anchor?

Because it may change the way you communicate!

The idea is this:
When we use plain, clear language, we're seen as more intelligent, credible and trustworthy.

On the other hand, when we use big, complex vocabulary or jargon, the opposite is true!

How many of you are trying to use big, fancy words or buzz phrases to sound smart?

I've known many people who do this

But you should know that it may be backfiring!

And this intuitively makes sense to me...

When the cognitive load is low for the listener,
(meaning, it's easy for them to understand what you're saying)

They can focus on the great points you're making,
Instead of trying to decipher WTF you're talking about

So here's the take-home lesson:
- If you want your ideas to be better received
- If you want to be seen as intelligent and credible
- If you want to build better trust with your colleagues

Clear over clever is the way to go.

Believe me when I say,
Your great ideas can speak for themselves 
But first, people need to understand you ✌️💜

Ever notice that work has taken over your life?
 
You know what I mean. When your dedication to your team and your job turns into:
 
- Spending the whole time you're at the park with your kiddo texting your boss
- Jumping back on your laptop after dinner to get work done
- Putting off that morning workout (again) to get an early start on emails
- Trying to watch Netflix with your partner, but your brain is solving that issue from work
 
The question that so many high-performing women like me have is this:
 
Is this just an inevitable part of becoming an executive?
 
Many people believe it is.
I disagree.
 
So in today's newsletter, I'm unpacking why this happens and what we can do instead.
 
If you're overwhelmed and overloaded, you don't want to skip this one!
 
Happy reading ✌️💜

Open article: Is work taking over your life? by Katy McFee • 2 min read

Jenny Wood

Author. Speaker. Founder, Google’s Own Your Career Program. Google Executive, America's Media Operations.

Order my NYT bestselling book: itsjennywood.com/book. WILD COURAGE: Go After What You Want and Get It will help you get seen, get heard, and get ahead.

Join 70K+ others who read my newsletter at itsjennywood.com/newsletter. It’s full of free tips to get what you really want in life.

18 years ago, I was an anxious, entry-level employee at Google. 

Then I chased my future-husband off the subway and gave him my number.

That moment made me realize the life I want won’t just happen to me. 

I have to chase it. And so do you! 

That mentality led me to become an executive at Google running a large operations team that helps drive tens of billions in revenue a year. I also founded Own Your Career, a large career development initiative at Google with tens of thousands of people benefitting.

After climbing the ranks from entry-level to executive, I realize something. What if the traits you need to get ahead are the exact opposite of what you’ve been told? To be successful you need to be:

Weird
Selfish
Shameless
Obsessed
Nosy
Manipulative
Brutal
Reckless
Bossy

And that takes courage. Wild amounts of it.

So I wrote a book! It’s called, WILD COURAGE: Go After What You Want and Get It, and it became an instant New York Times bestseller. 😮

I’m so excited for you to order it at itsjennywood.com/book and be more bold, persuasive, and successful. 

Follow me for advice to achieve your goals and get what you want. Unapologetically. 

The opinions I state on LinkedIn and other public forums are my own, not those of any past or present company.

Director, Americas Media Operations, Technical Service Managers

Lead large team across North and South America that helps F500 companies implement, optimize, and troubleshoot media campaigns.

At Google, I could almost always predict who would get promoted. 

It wasn’t the person who showed up exactly on time, did their part in the meeting, and rushed out the second it ended.

It was the person who lingered.

Who arrived 5 minutes early.
Who walked out with the VP after the town hall.
Who asked one thoughtful follow-up while everyone else bolted for their next meeting.

Meetings are where you do your job.

The margins are where you build your career.

I get it. It’s so easy to optimize for efficiency: join on time, participate, take notes, leave immediately.

But promotions don’t happen inside the agenda. They happen in the moments AROUND it.

If you want to accelerate your career, optimize for the margins:

1️⃣ Show up 5 minutes early to important meetings.

2️⃣ Walk out with people you want face time with.

3️⃣ Create margins virtually.

On Zoom, the “walk out together” is a quick Slack or email right after the meeting ends while it’s still fresh. 

Example: “Thanks for walking us though the reorg. Really helpful context. Quick question: how can my team best support this?”

When I was early in my career, I would’ve rushed back to my desk to “be productive.”

Now I know better.

Agree or disagree here? 👇

I put the exact scripts and tips I used to grow from entry-level to executive at Google into my No-BS Guide to Get Promoted. Grab it here:
https://lnkd.in/gXuRZCn8

New York Times bestselling author. Keynote speaker. Former Google exec. Former Harvard Business School researcher. Founder, Google’s Own Your Career Program.

This 5-word question has opened MANY doors for me: 

“Who else should I meet?” 

I used to go to conferences thinking: How do I impress this person? How do I make this conversation count? How do I make sure they remember me?

So I’d talk about me, me, me. My work, my projects, blah blah. 

Then I stopped trying to extract value…

 …and started trying to expand the room.

📌 Now, at the end of a good conversation, I ask: “Who else do you think I should meet while I’m here?”

They pause. They think. They scan the room differently.

You’re no longer a random person they chatted with. You’re someone they’re actively helping.

👉 And the psychology is powerful:

When someone introduces you, they’ve PRE-ENDORSED you. You walk into the next conversation warm.

It also signals something subtle: You’re here to build a network. 

So at your next conference, offsite, or networking event, don’t close with “Great to meet you.”

Close with: “Is there anyone here you think I should connect with?” 🤝

For more career tips — including the actual scripts and tips I used to grow from entry-level to executive at Google — check out my newsletter. Get the link in the comments.

I drove home and cried.

Let me share the story…

Last year, I had a big speaking event.

So I hired a coach, studied my delivery, practiced like crazy, and pushed myself to apply every piece of feedback she gave me.

It wasn’t about getting better anymore. 

It was about doing the job PERFECTLY.

If I didn’t incorporate all 15 things she told me right away, I’d be a failure.

So I prepped for 20 hours. 😅

And in the process, I neglected everything else: the other parts of my job, my husband, and my kids.

I gave the speech. The crowd applauded. My coach was thrilled.

But me? I felt awful 😳

Drained. Disconnected. Burned out.

All for a talk I could’ve crushed with half the effort.

Here’s what happened:

I wasn’t being excellent. 
I’d become TOO obsessed.

In my book Wild Courage, I define “Obsessed” as the courage to care deeply and pursue excellence.

But when left unchecked? 

Obsessed becomes overkill.

And at work that looks like:

❌ Writing 15 options for a Slack message
❌ Reworking a deck no one will remember next week
❌ Spending 2 hours giving feedback on a 20-minute task

Obsession isn’t bad. But it needs limits. ✋

Here are 3 rules I live by now: 

1️⃣ Pick 3 things to get an A+ on. Let the rest be a B.

Your client pitch? A+. 
Your quarterly business review? A+. 
Your team 1:1s? A+.
That internal doc? B is just fine.

2️⃣ Add margin to your calendar before you burn out.

Block 5 minutes between meetings.
Protect one afternoon a week for 2 hours of deep work.
Schedule your workouts like they’re your most important meetings.

3️⃣ Give yourself permission to care — without overdoing it.

Care enough to give feedback. But not so much you rewrite someone’s entire deck at 10 p.m.

If the deck is 30 slides, add your 5 most important comments throughout the whole thing. 

(Don’t add 2 comments per slide.)

Being Obsessed can drive excellence.

But only if it doesn’t drive you into the ground.

I had to learn that the hard way.

Be honest: What are you over-doing right now?

P.S. The photo is from last week at the Keller Williams Realty, LLC's CEO Summit — a full house of high-energy leaders who embody Wild Courage. And yes, this time I flew home fired up … not in tears. 😅

A friend of mine recently hired a web designer I recommended.

After their call, he texted me:

“She’s considerably more expensive than I expected… but I was impressed by how confidently she asked for a lot of money. Then shut her mouth.”

Most people lose money in the 7 seconds after they state their price.

They say:

“But I’m flexible…”
“That’s just a starting point…”
“I know that might be high…”

And suddenly… they’re negotiating against themselves.

Remember these 2 negotiation rules: 

1️⃣ Say your number clearly.

“My rate is $200 an hour.”
“I’m looking for $150K.”
“The project fee is $25,000.”

2️⃣ Shut up.

When you stop talking, you communicate: “I know what I’m worth.”

One of four things will happen:

👉 They say yes.
👉 They counter.
👉 They say no.
👉 They need time.

Do NOT undercut yourself out of discomfort.

Next time someone asks for your price?

Say it. Count to 10 in your head. Let them break the silence.

That discomfort is where negotiation happens. And you set yourself up for a win.

If holding the silence feels harder than saying the number, I put together a simple, step-by-step negotiation guide with the exact phrases to use (and what to say when they counter).

It’ll help you stop negotiating against yourself — and start getting paid what you’re worth:

https://lnkd.in/g2eW-38A

It was 7:00 a.m.

I texted my Chief of Staff, Carlina: 

“You should come on this podcast with me. We record at noon.”
😳

It was a big podcast with thousands of reviews. Massive audience.

Carlina works behind the scenes. She is brilliant and strategic — and not usually the one holding the mic.

This was her FIRST podcast ever.

She texted back: “Let’s do it. I’m going to be reckless.” 😅

(Reckless is one of the nine traits I write about in my new book Wild Courage. It means having the courage to err on the side of action. Better to learn from your mistakes than waste time analyzing every decision.)

Five hours later, Carlina crushed it.

Extra time rarely builds confidence. Instead, it helps you spiral and overthink. 

📌 That’s why I love the 24-Hour Rule: 

If something scares you (and it’s aligned with your goals), give yourself less than 24 hours to act.

👉 Schedule the hard conversation for tomorrow morning.
👉 Submit the application tonight.
👉 Tell someone you’ll speak up in the meeting tomorrow — so you have to.

Short timelines force action before fear gets too loud.

After the episode, Carlina said: “I’m so glad I just did it. Doing it increased my confidence.” 

That’s the secret.

Confidence comes from DOING the thing. Not just thinking about it. 

This week, pick one scary thing you’ve been avoiding. Give yourself less than 24 hours.

Then do it. 

P.S.: Check out our episode on Ian Morgan Cron's Typology podcast — one of the biggest I'd done and Carlina’s very first.

https://lnkd.in/gPTT5x2h

I have an embarrassing confession… 👀

I didn’t read ANYTHING until I was 21 years old.

I was that kid in third grade hiding behind pillows in the library corner, hoping the teacher wouldn’t call on me to read aloud.

The first book I actually enjoyed was Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. 
I was studying abroad junior year of college. 

(Yes, CliffsNotes is how I survived high school English. 🤣)

We all have that stack of books haunting us.

On the nightstand. In the Kindle. In the Amazon cart.

Books that would help your career. 
Books everyone keeps recommending. 
Books you genuinely want to read.

But between work, kids, and life… who has 10 hours per book?

So the list keeps growing. And the guilt keeps building.

I get it. 

👉 And then I discovered Shortform.

Shortform gives you chapter-by-chapter breakdowns, key concepts, critical analysis, and exercises from the books you’ve always wanted to read. 

(Basically everything you’d get from reading the full book, but in a fraction of the time.)

Books like Never Split the Difference, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, or Grit — books I want to read but won't sit down and read in full — I can absorb in 30 minutes.

The girl who hid behind pillows to avoid reading? 
She LOVES this type of reading! 

Stop feeling guilty about unread books.

Start getting the value from them anyway with Shortform. 🙌

P.S. Try Shortform free for 5 days and Get $50 OFF using this link: shortform.com/jw

#sponsoredpost #productivity #personaldevelopment

Color code your speaker notes to avoid being a monotone presenter. 
I use gray and purple.

I once led a training at Google for several thousand employees, and right after I wrapped up the session, this gChat came through:

Googler: Hi Jenny, we’ve never met, but I was amazed by your presentation. Your voice modulation really made it stick.

Me: Aww, thanks! It’s not random. I color code my speaker notes.

Gray = quiet / hushed for effect.
Purple = higher register.
Bold = loud for emphasis.

Googler: OMG. And here I thought you were just born with modulation skills 😂

Me: Ha. If you find someone who is, I want to meet them!

Great speakers aren’t magically expressive. They’re intentional.

If you want your message to land:

✅ Script key moments.
✅ Decide where you’ll slow down.
✅ Mark where you’ll get louder.
✅ Build in contrast.

You can do this too and rock your presentations.

#publicspeakingtips #presentationskills #careertips

This is Pan Macmillan's paperback cover for Wild Courage, and I love what they did with it.

Their art and design team put a lot of thought into this, and the lightning bolt was the perfect choice.

It communicates focused energy.
A jolt. A superpower. A clear break from safe, beige career advice.

The result is a paperback cover that matches what Wild Courage has always stood for: pushing past fear, embracing ambition, and dialing up the very traits you’ve been told to dial down:

⚡️ Weird
⚡️ Selfish
⚡️ Shameless
⚡️ Obsessed
⚡️ Nosy
⚡️ Manipulative
⚡️ Brutal
⚡️ Reckless
⚡️ Bossy

UK and Ireland readers: if Wild Courage has been on your list, you can grab the paperback through Friday, Feb. 20 and save 25% with code FEB26.

Grab it here: https://lnkd.in/gqHUX9BC

You don’t have a calendar problem. 

You have a courage problem. 😬

Every “Sure, I can make that work,” 
“Let me try to squeeze it in,” 
“I’ll see what I can do…”

…is you volunteering your future resentment.

Every unnecessary yes trains people to treat your time like it’s flexible.

If you want to operate at a higher level, your calendar has to reflect your priorities. 

Here are 5 easy ways to say no without the guilt:

📌 Low-priority meeting:  
“I’m not the right person for this one. Happy to weigh in async if helpful.”

📌 Someone wants to “pick your brain”:
 “Candidly, my schedule is at capacity right now, so I need to pass. I appreciate you thinking of me. Let’s stay connected on LinkedIn.”

📌 Optional dinner/event:
 “Thanks for the invite! I have a conflict that morning, so I need to pass. I hope it goes well.”

📌 You get added to a project you didn’t agree to:
 “I don’t have bandwidth for this. What should I deprioritize if this needs to move forward?”

📌 A vague “quick favor”:
“Can you clarify the outcome you’re looking for? I want to make sure it’s the best use of my time.”

Respect your own time first.

Everyone else will follow.

Get the scripts I actually use to say no to projects, meetings, and favors (without feeling like a jerk): 

https://lnkd.in/gjQaaQ87

I’m bringing a little WILD COURAGE to SXSW this week.

I’ll be speaking about the unconventional traits that actually help people get ahead — the ones we’re often told to dial down.

Things like being a little more:

• Weird
• Selfish
• Shameless
• Obsessed
• Nosy
• Manipulative
• Brutal
• Reckless
• Bossy

Turns out those traits are rocket fuel for your career. If you'll be there, come check out my session:

SXSW SESSION:
🗓 March 14 | 11:30 AM
📍 Hilton Austin Downtown — Salon A

Right after the talk, I’ll be doing a book signing:

BOOK SIGNING:
🗓 March 14 | 12:45–1:05 PM
📍 Hilton Austin Downtown — Level 6 Foyer

I’ll also be part of the SXSW 7-Minute Book Giveaway hosted by Rohit Bhargava and The Non-Obvious Company — where 25 authors will be giving away signed books.

SXSW 7-MINUTE BOOK GIVEAWAY:
🗓 March 15 | 12:30 PM
📍 Brazos Hall — Innovation Clubhouse

You can find my session details here:
https://lnkd.in/gQ9f2p9h

If you're heading to SXSW, let me know below. I’d love to meet you there.

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