Ambition Out Loud

Women's empowerment might be all the rage, but what does empowerment really mean?  In this episode, I sit down with Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger to discuss some of the ways she's leading by empowering others.  Her ideas may just inspire you to go out and empower someone! Michelle Davis-Younger is the current Mayor of the City of Manassas, Virginia. A native of Manassas, she is the first person...

What if mindset could be your superpower?  So much of our ability to lead is constrained by our mindset.  Narrow thinking can hamper decision-making, stifle team performance, and drive us to burn out.  In this episode Tina shares how the Energy Leadership® Framework, the same transformative and emerging leadership approach utilized at companies like IKEA, Boeing, and the U.S. Coast Guard, can h...

Gaming is often dismissed as being purely recreational, but it’s actually an highly effective tool for learning and team development.  Today, Alex Suchman joins me to dive into a topic that leaders often overlook. Alex is the CEO and Co-founder of Barometer XP, a Games-as-a-Service company committed to creating positive impact through play. Its holistic, human-focused approach leverages fun an...

Women account for over half of all management positions in the U.S., but progress remains slow when it comes to breaking glass ceilings.  As of 2022, women held only 8.8% of Fortune 500 CEO roles.  The black box nature of executive search is certainly not helping. Somer Hackley is here to change that.  Somer is the Founder and CEO of Distinguished Search, a retained executive search firm. She ...

What if, instead of viewing your emotions as a weakness, you saw them as a source of strength?   Ashley Bernardi, Literary Titan Book Award Winner and Author of "Authentic Power: Give Yourself Permission to Feel" learned how to step into her strength when she finally took the time to process her emotions. In healing from Lyme disease and the traumatic passing of her father, Ashley unlocked he...

By now we are all well aware that many women felt trapped between a rock and a hard place as the coronavirus spread and dependent care responsibilities increased. In the face of these unsustainable challenges, many women felt that they had no other choice than to leave the workplace.   If this sounds like you and you're now ready to re-enter the workforce, then we’re here to help.  This episo...

When's the last time you flexed your financial power?  Did you read that and think, "Nicole, you are talking to the wrong person.  Where is this "financial power" of which you speak?"  (It might be small, but I assure you it's there.)   Rebecca Borton and I sit down to discuss the financial power hiding in your wallet so that you can harness it and reap the rewards of intentional financial li...

Phylicia L. Woods comes from a long line of bold and empowered women.  She is a Director of Federal Relations at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and currently serves as Vice Chair on the Fairfax County Commission for Women were she represents the Providence District.  She previously served as Counsel to Former U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill on the U.S. Senate Homeland Security ...

Pausing time to share your tributes for our recently passed and dearly beloved Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  Community:  Looking to connect with other ambitious women?  Our community's online hang is the Ambition Unboxed FB Group at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.   Sponsors: Nardi Media Black Lives Matter Book Club: https://nardimedia.com/bookclub/ BLM Book...

Mentioned in this episode: Submit your RBG tribute at http://www.ambitionoutloud.com by EOD on September 23, 2020 Connector Conference - September 25, 2020: https://www.connectorconference.com/  Use my speaker code for a discount (limited availability): Maaguo25  Books & Bubbles Author Discussion with Mel McSherry on October 28, 2020: https://www.facebook.com/events/827878344640230 Honest C...

What happens when ambition and ageism intersect? The outlook can feel bleak.  Fortunately, there are ways you can take control of your career at any age.  Elise Stevens, an experienced project delivery professional and author of the best-selling book Age Defying Careers, joins us to discuss how those of us 40 and over can regain career control so that our next 40 years are the best yet.     M...

Consider this episode your intro course in diversity and inclusion training.  I know you've got questions and Dr. Traci Baxley has the answers.  Dr. Baxley is a belonging and inclusion advocate supporting organizations in developing inclusive workplace practices through her consultancy, Traci Baxley Consulting.  She is also the creator of Social Justice Parenting™, a parenting philosophy that m...

Roya Mattis is a lot of things: self-made millionaire, motivational speaker, National Sales Director, and now movement builder.  While highly accomplished, one of the most noticeable things about her is that she radiates confidence.  In fact, confidence is one of her superpowers but it wasn't always.  Roya shares her journey from eating alone to inspiring thousands and the steps she took to get...

No pushy salesperson, Kim Fredrich is a sales for non-salespeople expert, speaker and trainer. She helps businesses increase profit and individuals find their sales confidence so everyone be more successful.  In this episode we untangle our faulty assumptions about selling and discuss why women need to be more intentional about developing sales skills.   Mentioned in this episode: Books & Bu...

Marcia Sheehan is a serial-entrepreneur on a mission to help women prioritize self-care, but she wasn't always so ambitious.  In this episode we'll explore her unlikely path to business owner, why embracing her ambition has made all the difference, and introduce you to the idea of self-care staycations!  Marcia's businesses include Her Hideaways, The Connector Conference, and Charmed Cardinals....

Happy New Year!  This quick bonus episode will walk you through some changes we are making in 2020 and let you in on a few of the exciting things we have planned. Join our new Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.

Everyone hates looking for a job. If only great jobs came to you...  That would be awesome! (In the same way that unicorns are awesome - right?)     Karlie Shields is a digital marketing expert who leveraged her on-the-job skills to become a recruiter magnet and land multiple job offers.  She's sharing her secrets so that you can magnetize your next job search.  Then again, if landing offers ca...

Katherine Liola is the Founder & CEO of Concentric Private Wealth. In this episode, we discuss her experience with sexual harassment in the financial services industry, why she ultimately left to start her own company, and the importance of creating a life aligned with your values.

We're talking with Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, hosts of the hit bipartisan podcast Pantsuit Politics. Sarah and Beth share their biggest career lessons and how grace can better equip us to handle difficult conversations at work.

In this episode we dive into surprising details about the state of the gender pay gap in the United States and discuss 7 mindset shifts you can make to leave less money on the table. Mentioned in this episode: Wage Gap Demographics (http://www.equalpaytoday.org/equalpaydays) by Equal Pay Today The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (http://www.equalpaytoday.org/equalpaydays) by the American ...

Sarah Vermunt is the Founder of Careergasm and the author of Careergasm and Career Rookie. We're talking about what poor job/fit looks like and how to pivot into work that actually feels good.  Mentioned in this episode: When the Body Says No (https://amzn.to/2JNBP6B) by Dr. Gabor Maté, M.D. Career Rookie (https://careergasm.com/career-rookie-book/) by Sarah Vermunt Zig Zag podcast S4 EP02: An ...

Meg Sytnick is a successful entrepreneur, travel expert, and philanthropist. She founded her company in 2004. Over the past 15 years, Meg has grown her business by representing clients in cities throughout the United States and around the world as a Travel & Hospitality Planner and Life Experience Influencer. In this episode, Meg shares her experience navigating the good 'ole boys club bull in ...

Mel McSherry is an International Business Development Coach and Speaker. She predominantly works with women business owners who are exhausted and overwhelmed by what they think they need to do in order to be successful. In this episode, we dive into why women often modify their personality to succeed at work, how easy it can be to lose yourself in this game, and how to reconnect with, and be, y...

In episode one, we kick things off with a candid conversation about what it means to be an ambitious woman and why so many women avoid using the a-word... ambitious! For further reading, check out: (https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2009/jan/wk1/art05.htm) https://www.ancient.eu/article/659/the-role-of-women-in-the-roman-world/ https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2009/jan/wk1/art05.htm https://www.census.g...

Ambition Out Loud is new podcast by the creators of the women's leadership program, Ambition Unboxed.  This podcast is for driven women looking for help navigating rubber-meets-the-road challenges women face in the workplace.  We've got real world stories so you don't have to feel alone (and no, you're definitely not crazy!), and practical advice to help you overcome these challenges and advanc...