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When Ambition Feels Like a Liability – And why it’s not.
Lately, I found myself in a room full of young professional women. Bright, talented, ambitious. And yet… the air felt tight. The tension was almost physical—like their shoulders were carrying something invisible but heavy. As I began to share my story, the ups and downs of my own career, I noticed something subtle: the room softened. Eyes lifted. Breaths deepened. Something shifted. Later, over coffee, they told me why. Just before our session, they had sat through a career talk where someone told them, “It doesn’t matter whether you get promoted this year or next. It’ll happen eventually.” Meant to be reassuring, perhaps. But what they heard was: “Your ambition…
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Why we should still lead with encouragement — even when it feels like no one is encouraging us
There are days when I leave meetings—internal ones, client ones, even 1:1s with people I deeply respect—and I feel… invisible. No “thank you.” No “great point.” No eye contact, even. Just a blur of agendas, deadlines, decisions. And me, sitting there, wondering: Does anyone even notice how hard I’m trying? If you’ve ever been in that space, I want to tell you—you’re not alone. But here’s what I’ve learned after years of consulting, coaching, and navigating boardrooms and back-to-back calls: We all want to be seen. And ironically, we’re all waiting for someone else to go first. The Silent Frustration It’s deeply human to crave acknowledgment. A simple “thank you”…
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Why Leadership Can Feel Isolating (and How to Stay Connected)
Suddenly, I was no longer one of the team. I was leading it. There was a beautiful pride in that moment—but also a quiet void. Meetings changed. Conversations shifted. People started looking to me for answers, but I still had so many questions. And somehow, it felt like I had to figure it all out… alone. If you’ve ever stepped into a leadership role and thought, “Why does no one talk about how lonely this is?”—you’re not alone in that thought either. We often assume that once we’ve “made it” into leadership, everything clicks into place. Especially when we’re surrounded by more experienced leaders who seem calm, composed, and confident.…
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The Leap: From Senior to Leadership — Why It’s Not Just About the Next Role
Today, I listened to a podcast from a well-known comedian. Not exactly your typical career guru, but his words hit me with surprising precision. He shared that everything changed for him when he decided to prioritize himself — not his career, not the next gig, not even success. Himself. For him, that meant going to the gym, showing up on time, preparing his material like it really mattered. The result? He didn’t just become physically stronger — he started taking himself more seriously. And in turn, others started doing the same. And I thought: that’s exactly the moment when careers take off — when we stop waiting to be discovered,…
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From the Sidelines to the Spotlight: What Your First Leadership Role Really Feels Like
You thought it would feel powerful. Like finally having a seat at the table. Like being the one who decides, not the one who follows. And yes, it does feel different. But probably not in the way you expected. Your first leadership role is rarely the victory lap you imagined when you were still working your way up — delivering results, trying to be seen, and occasionally wondering why your boss acts the way they do. Because the truth is: when you step into leadership for the first time, the world tilts. It doesn’t revolve around you anymore. It revolves around others. And that… can be both humbling and beautiful.…
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When Saying “No” Isn’t an Option: How to Handle Tough Leadership Requests with Grace
“You can’t really say no to this, you know.” The words still echo in my mind — half a suggestion, half a command. If you’ve ever been asked to take on a task you didn’t want (or shouldn’t) do — and felt like “no” wasn’t an acceptable answer — this article is for you. ✨ When the Ask Isn’t Really a Choice Maybe it’s an extra project that feels wrong. Maybe it’s a task that clashes with your values. Maybe it’s simply more than you can — or should — take on. Whatever the reason, here’s the hard truth: Sometimes, especially when senior leaders are involved, refusing a request comes…
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From Survival to Strategy: How Journaling Became My Anchor
More than a decade ago, I didn’t start journaling because I wanted to. I started because I had to. Life had placed me in a tough private situation—one that shook my foundation far beyond the walls of my home. Even though I kept showing up at work, leading teams, delivering results, and putting on the polished armor of professionalism, the truth was: my strength was stretched thinner than it had ever been. Every morning, I would power through, believing I could handle the day. Meetings, deadlines, leadership challenges—it all felt manageable at first. But then, around early afternoon, the emotions I had carefully tucked away would come rushing in like…
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Words That Build Us: The Power of Affirmations for High-Achieving Women
Let’s talk about affirmations. I’ll be honest with you—this wasn’t something that came naturally to me. In fact, the first time I heard someone say “Just repeat this affirmation every morning while looking in the mirror,” I inwardly rolled my eyes. It felt fluffy. Like I was being asked to chant rainbows into existence. And I’m not here for googoo energy or spiritual bypassing. But I am here for living fully, intentionally, and in alignment with how I’m actually designed to move through the world. I care deeply about coherence—between my thoughts, my actions, my values, and my potential. So I kept leaning in, looking past the clichés, and asking:…
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If you want a career, this is important
The interview is going fine. Questions and answers are meandering like a lovely river – the job offering seems to be certain. This is when the applicant asks her bold last question: „What would you have liked to know when you were in my situation?“ I am smiling. „Always choose the person you are working for and not the topic.“ The applicant pauses. „I didn‘t expect that answer“, she admits. We are both sitting in silence for a moment enjoying our thoughts wandering around the idea in the room. Choosing a person. Not a topic. Selecting a teacher. Not a task. When you think of it, it really makes sense.…
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Why it is good to have no clue what to do
When I led my first project team, it felt quite overwhelming. Assigning tasks to my team, talking to the client, keeping my internal stakeholders up to date, managing the scope, keeping track of the numbers … sometimes I didn‘t know what to do first. On top, the solution for the client didn‘t fall off the shelf but we needed to interview people, ask questions, define deliverables and agree on a way of working to getting to the results. Sometimes I really wished to know everything already. At that time, a lot of the solutioning was created in the evening when I went swimming. Under water I could think. I could…