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In the final bonus episode of the Be the CEO of Your Career summer series, Tammy Gooler Loeb explores the practice of Reflect and Refine. This practice encourages professionals to pause and evaluate whether their careers are still aligned with their goals, values, and personal needs. Rather than treating career planning as a one-time exercise, Reflect and Refine recognizes that our lives, interests, and circumstances change, and our professional choices need to evolve with them. Tammy speaks with longtime friend Scot Safon, a media marketing and branding consultant with more than 40 years of experience. Scot's career took him from advertising agencies to leadership positions at TNT, CNN, HLN, and The Weather Channel before he established his own consulting practice. Along the way, he repeatedly assessed his opportunities, followed his interests, and made decisions that reflected both his professional ambitions and his life outside work. Their conversation explores how curiosity can help people discover new possibilities, why relationships are essential to career development, and how hands-on experiences can reveal more than abstract ideas ever could. Scot also reflects on the changing nature of work, the importance of enjoying the process rather than chasing an idealized dream job, and the value of maintaining a sense of optimism when navigating uncertainty. In This Week's Podcast, Learn More About: What it means to Reflect and Refine throughout your career.Why career planning should be an ongoing practice rather than a one-time decision.How curiosity can lead to unexpected professional opportunities.Recognizing when a job or career direction no longer fits your needs.Why relationships can be instrumental in navigating career transitions.How your definition of career success shifts as your life changes.Why meaningful work doesn't need to define your entire identity.How to approach mistakes with humor and learn from them.The importance of staying optimistic when navigating change.How to reassess your career while remaining open to new possibilities. Learn more: Follow Scot on LinkedInFollow Scot on Instagram Your CEO of Your Career Move: Take Stock of Where You Are As the summer series comes to a close, this is an opportunity to revisit your career and ask yourself some important questions. Am I meeting the professional goals that matter to me? Is my work still aligned with my values and interests? Am I taking care of my personal needs, relationships, and life outside work? What has changed about me since I first made my career decisions? Is there something I need to adjust, explore, or let go of? Choose one area of your career that deserves a closer look. You don't necessarily need to make a major change. You might simply need to adjust your priorities, explore an opportunity, reconnect with someone, or try something you've been curious about. Your CEO of Your Career Move this week: Take 15 minutes to reflect on where you are now, what you've learned, and what you want to do differently moving forward. Remember, reflection isn't about second-guessing every decision you've made. It's about using what you know today to make more intentional decisions about tomorrow. Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInWork From The Inside Out WebsiteRead Tammy’s book: Work from the Inside OutSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloebBuy Me A Coffee to support the podcast

In this episode of the Be the CEO of Your Career summer series, Tammy Gooler Loeb explores the fourth practice in her framework: Map and Launch Your Career Strategy. Once professionals have connected with their values, explored possibilities, and found a direction that fits, the next challenge is turning that clarity into action. This means creating a real plan with steps and timelines, one that is grounded not only in aspirations but also in practical realities. Tammy brings the practice to life through her conversation with Susan Barber, a leading executive coach and former corporate executive. Susan spent more than two decades in leadership roles while navigating perfectionism, people-pleasing, self-doubt, and a tendency to stay quiet rather than risk saying the wrong thing. Even while being recognized as a top talent, she didn't fully realize how her habit of staying in the background was affecting her career. That changed when Susan received difficult feedback that she wasn't visible enough. Initially, the message was painful and unsettling, but Susan chose not to ignore it. With the help of a business mentor, she reframed the feedback and recognized that speaking up wasn't simply about promoting herself. By withholding information, ideas, and the accomplishments of her team, she could unintentionally limit both her own impact and the ability of others to make informed decisions. Susan began preparing differently, speaking up more intentionally, and bringing her team into important conversations. Those changes transformed how she showed up as a leader and eventually became the foundation of her work around visibility. Later, when she made the decision to leave corporate leadership and build her own business, she approached the transition with an understanding of her actual circumstances, including the resources and support available to her. In This Week's Podcast, Learn More About: What it means to Map and Launch Your Career StrategyWhy career clarity must eventually turn into actionCreating a plan grounded in both goals and practical realitiesWhy readiness doesn't always feel like confidenceHow difficult feedback can become a catalyst for changeRecognizing when staying safe is keeping you hiddenThe difference between visibility and self-promotionWhy speaking up can benefit your team as well as your careerHow Susan reframed feedback into concrete actionPreparing in advance to show up with greater confidenceBuilding a career strategy around your actual resources and circumstancesWhy launching a plan requires more than quietly preparing behind the scenesHow becoming visible can create new opportunitiesLearn more: Read: The Visibility Factor: Breakthrough Your Fears, Stand In Your Own Power And Become The Authentic Leader You Were Meant To BeRead: Your Journey To Visibility Workbook: A Proven Action Plan to Achieve Career SuccessListen: The Visibility Factor podcastVisit: SusanMBarber.comLinkedIn: SusanBarberCoaching Your CEO of Your Career Move: Look at your career plan honestly. Is there a piece of it you've built quietly in a way that's still keeping you hidden? Maybe you've updated your résumé but haven't told anyone you're exploring new opportunities. Maybe you've created a website but haven't shared it. Maybe you've developed a skill but haven't shown anyone what you can do. Maybe you've decided what you want next but haven't had the conversation that could move you toward it. Pick one piece of your plan this week and put it somewhere it can be seen. A strategy doesn't become real simply because you've created it. At some point, you have to launch. Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInWork From The Inside Out WebsiteRead Tammy’s book: Work from the Inside OutSubscribe to Tammy’s newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloebBuy Me A Coffee to support the podcast

In this episode of the Be the CEO of Your Career summer series, Tammy Gooler Loeb explores the third practice in her framework: Synthesize and Focus. After a period of discovery, people  will have gained new information, perspectives, and ideas, considering the possibilities and themes that emerge from them. Synthesize and Focus is the process of bringing those pieces together, finding patterns, and identifying a direction that aligns with their values, strengths, interests, and practical needs. In her conversation with Dr. Mira Brancu, founder and CEO of Towerscope, Tammy saw this practice come to life. Mira's career has included school counseling, clinical psychology, research, leadership, organizational development, and entrepreneurship. What initially appeared to be a series of unexpected turns eventually revealed a pattern. Mira consistently found herself drawn to examining processes and systems to improve how people work together while navigating complex environments, and helping leaders become more effective. An important moment came when Mira decided to consider a backup plan for her career. She made a list of everything she was good at, then removed items from the list that she didn't enjoy. Mira then examined the remaining list to identify items that met at the intersection between what she enjoyed, what had income earning potential, and what could address a meaningful need. That process led her to identify a focus on supporting women in leadership and helping people navigate complex organizations and workplace politics. Mira's story also demonstrates that synthesis doesn't necessarily mean choosing one thing and abandoning everything else. Her work with the Veterans Affairs Administration and her own business began feeding one another, allowing her to bring insights from one environment into the other. She also emphasizes the importance of building relationships throughout a career transition rather than trying to make every decision alone. In This Week's Podcast, Learn More About: What it means to Synthesize and FocusWhy career clarity often comes after a period of discoveryIdentifying patterns across seemingly unrelated career experiencesUnderstanding the intersection of strengths, interests, values, and needsWhy being good at something doesn't necessarily mean you'll enjoy itMira's journey from psychology into organizational developmentHow mentors can sometimes recognize strengths before we doThe value of understanding systems and complex environmentsHow Mira created a career "sweet spot"Balancing meaningful work with practical considerationsWhy career decisions don't have to be made in isolationHow relationships, mentors, coaches, and professional networks are vital to reinventionWhy synthesis can be useful at any career crossroads Learn more: Visit: gotowerscope.comFollow Mira on LinkedIn Your CEO of Your Career Move: Take everything you've been discovering lately and lay it out in front of you. That could include conversations you've had, ideas you've explored, skills you've identified, things you've enjoyed, possibilities you've considered, and even things that didn't work out. Then ask yourself three questions: What am I good at? What do I enjoy? What does the world need that I could contribute to? Look for the overlap or intersection. That intersection may reveal where your focus wants to go next. And if you're struggling to see the pattern on your own, take Mira's advice: don't sit with your thoughts and over-deliberate by yourself. Bring other people into the process. Find mentors, coaches, professional organizations, and people who have already navigated their own career transition. Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInWork From The Inside Out WebsiteRead Tammy’s book: Work from the Inside OutSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloebBuy Me A Coffee to support the podcast

In this episode of the Be the CEO of Your Career summer series, Tammy Gooler Loeb focuses on the second practice in her framework: Discovery. Discovery is about noticing the gaps in what you know, becoming curious about them, and actively gathering the information, experiences, and relationships that can help you determine your next steps. Rather than allowing uncertainty to translate into overwhelm or paralysis, discovery turns uncertainty into an invitation to explore, take charge, and gain new ground. Through her conversation with Jason Van Orden, Tammy brings the practice of discovery to life. Jason's career offers a powerful example of repeated discovery. His early fascination with computers and programming led him to study electrical engineering and software development, but he soon realized that working as an employee wasn't right for him. That discovery led him to experiment with real estate investing, marketing, teaching, and eventually podcasting. His first business podcast became a Top 10 business podcast and continued for a decade. Jason's discovery process continued even after achieving significant success. While living in Paris and running his established business, he realized he was no longer waking up energized by the work. Rather than throwing away everything he had built, he gave himself time and space to experiment and identify which parts of his experience he wanted to carry forward. That process eventually led him toward consulting with coaches and consultants, developing scalable programs, networking, and helping others communicate and grow their businesses. Today, Jason is also exploring artificial intelligence with the same curiosity that once drew him toward podcasting. For him, discovery means remaining open to what is emerging, testing possibilities, and finding ways to integrate new ideas without losing authenticity. His advice for anyone wondering what comes next is simple: follow your curiosity. Curiosity can become a channel to intuition, helping reveal interests and possibilities that might otherwise remain hidden. In This Week's Podcast, Learn More About: What discovery looks like as an ongoing career practiceWhy curiosity can be more useful than trying to "find your passion"How to turn uncertainty into an invitation to exploreRecognizing the breadcrumbs that appear throughout your careerUsing experimentation to learn what fitsWhy discovery requires engagement with other peopleHow Jason transitioned from engineering to entrepreneurshipThe unexpected path from real estate investing to podcastingWhat Jason learned from leaving a successful businessHow networking became an important part of his next chapterUsing your existing skills in new and unexpected waysExploring AI while maintaining an authentic voiceWhy you don't need to have your entire next chapter figured out Learn more: Visit Jason Van Orden’s website at jasonvanorden.com   Email Jason Van Orden at [email protected] Sign up for Jason Van Orden’s newsletterListen to the Impact: How to Grow Your Thought Leadership Brand and Business podcastLinkedIn Your CEO of Your Career Move: Pick one thing you've been wondering about. It could be a different role, a possible career direction, an industry, a business idea, a skill you want to develop, or simply a question about what might be possible. Instead of researching it alone on your laptop, go talk to a person about it. Have one informational conversation. Reach out to someone who has already explored that path. Ask an honest question. Talk to a librarian, colleague, former coworker, mentor, or someone you admire. The goal isn't to make a decision. The goal is to discover something you didn't know before. That's discovery in action. Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInWork From The Inside Out WebsiteRead Tammy’s book: Work from the Inside OutSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloebBuy Me A Coffee to support the podcast

In this first episode of the Be the CEO of Your Career summer series, Tammy Gooler Loeb explores the initial practice in her framework: Define Your Why. At its core, this practice is about identifying the values and priorities that matter most so career decisions can come from clarity rather than expectation, pressure, or simply following the next logical step. To bring the practice to life, Tammy revisits her podcast conversation with Rashmir Balasubramaniam, a transformational leadership coach and consultant whose earliest memories include asking her father, "Why am I here?" That question would consistently surface for Rashmir throughout her career in accounting, investment banking, nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, consulting, teaching, and coaching. Again and again, Rashmir learned to recognize when her work was moving closer to, or further away from, the values of learning, growth, purpose, and impact that mattered most to her. Rashmir's journey illustrates how defining your why isn't something that happens once but rather serves as a thread that drives discovery, meaning and fulfillment along the way. It requires listening to the inner and outer signals that emerge throughout a career and reassessing what feels significant as circumstances evolve. Tammy closes the episode, offering a C.E.O. of Your Career Move to help listeners uncover their own why by reflecting on their best career decisions and identifying the threads connecting them. In This Week's Podcast, Learn More About: How Define Your Why sets the stage for the five practices within the Be the CEO of Your Career frameworkHow values and priorities provide a compass for career decisionsUnderstanding the difference between logical choices and an inner sense of knowingWhy Rashmir repeatedly chose learning, growth, purpose, and impactRecognizing when a successful career path no longer feels alignedWhy letting go can create space to discover what's nextHow reflection helped Rashmir to navigate multiple career transitionsThe power of curiosity throughout her professional journeyListening for the inner and outer signals pointing toward what comes nextDefining your why matters at every career crossroads, including retirement Learn more: Explore the Be the CEO of Your Career FrameworkVisit: rashmir.netFollow Rashmir on LinkedIn Your CEO of Your Career Move: Look back at every job, opportunity, or career decision that has ever felt genuinely right. Write down the thread, or perhaps several threads, that appeared across most of those experiences. Was it learning? Creativity? Service? Independence? Impact? Connection? Leadership? That recurring thread is a piece of your why. Pull on it. Consider where it is showing up in your career today and where it may be missing. As Tammy reminds listeners, defining your why isn't only useful when making a career pivot. It can provide clarity at any meaningful crossroads in work and life. Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInWork From The Inside Out WebsiteRead Tammy’s book: Work from the Inside OutSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloebBuy Me A Coffee to support the podcast

This week on Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb introduces listeners to a special bonus summer series centered around her Be the CEO of Your Career framework. Drawing on years of coaching and career development experience, Tammy explains why meaningful career growth begins with understanding yourself before pursuing external opportunities. She shares the foundational ‘CEO’ mindset: Curiosity, Engagement, and Ownership, which supports every stage of intentional career development. Tammy walks through the framework's five core practices: Define Your Why, Discovery, Synthesize and Focus, Map and Launch Your Career Strategy, and Reflect and Refine. Rather than presenting them as a checklist or succession of steps, she explains how these practices cycle through and evolve as careers and aspirations change. Throughout the summer, each practice will be explored through the story of a previous podcast guest whose journey demonstrates the framework in action. Tammy also previews an exciting new chapter for the podcast. Beginning this fall with Episode 300, Work from the Inside Out will feature a blend of inspiring guest conversations and solo episodes addressing today's evolving workplaces, career uncertainty, leadership challenges, and the future of work. She closes with a simple challenge for listeners: identify which of the five practices deserves the most attention right now and begin leading their careers with greater intention. What to Expect in This Summer Series: Over the next five episodes, Tammy will explore each practice of the Be the CEO of Your Career framework through the stories and experiences of past Work from the Inside Out guests: Define Your Why with Rashmir Balasubramaniam, who shares how a lifelong search for purpose began with a simple childhood question: "Why am I here?"Discovery with Jason Van Orden, whose curiosity-driven career journey demonstrates the power of exploring new possibilities and embracing change.Synthesize and Focus with Mira Brancu, who explains how identifying the intersection of strengths, passions, and impact can bring greater career clarity.Map and Launch Your Career Strategy with Susan Barber, who reveals how difficult feedback became the catalyst for a purposeful career transformation.Reflect and Refine with Scot Safon, whose decades-long career illustrates the value of continually reassessing, learning, and adapting over time. Learn more: Explore the Be the CEO of Your Career Framework Your CEO of Your Career Move: Before the next episode drops, take five minutes and ask yourself: Which of the five practices needs your attention most right now? Is it Define Your Why, Discovery, Synthesize and Focus, Map and Launch Your Career Strategy, or Reflect and Refine? Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

Professional success is often seen as the ultimate measure of a fulfilling career, but what if achievement alone isn't enough? In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb welcomes Jeff Westphal, former CEO of Vertex Inc., entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author of A Work Life Worth Living: Your Guide to Creating a Meaningful Career. Jeff shares the personal experiences that shaped his leadership journey and inspired his mission to help others create more meaningful work lives. Jeff reflects on growing up in a family of hardworking entrepreneurs, navigating a complicated relationship with his father, and discovering how learning to truly listen transformed both his leadership and his life. Together, Tammy and Jeff explore the power of workplace culture, personal responsibility, and the importance of understanding what truly brings meaning to work. Whether you're rethinking your career, leading a team, or searching for greater fulfillment in your professional life, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and practical wisdom. Jeff reminds listeners that while organizations can foster supportive environments, each individual has the opportunity to create a work life that is rooted in purpose, connection, and meaning. In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about: How childhood experiences shape leadershipWhy success alone does not create fulfillmentThe leadership power of listening firstBuilding a culture where people thriveTaking ownership of your own career satisfactionFinding meaning regardless of your job titleThe lessons that transformed Jeff's relationship with his fatherWhy meaningful work starts from the inside out Learn more about Jeff: Read: A Work Life Worth Living: Your Guide to Creating a Meaningful CareerVisit: meaningsphere.comVisit: jeffwestphal.orgFollow Jeff on LinkedInFollow Jeff on FacebookFollow Jeff on InstagramAdditional resources noted during the podcast: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen CoveyTech Humanist: How You Can Make Technology Better for Business and Better for Humans by Kate O’NeillSynchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership by Joseph Jaworski Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Dr. Shawn Andrews and Michael O'Brien, co-authors of The 5 Levels of Male Allyship: A Guide to Building Better Teams Through Real Inclusion. Together, they explore how allyship can help create more inclusive workplace cultures and stronger professional relationships. Drawing on their research and experiences, Shawn and Michael discuss why many men want to be allies but often struggle to know where to begin. They explain the five levels of allyship, the importance of awareness and courage, and how individuals can move from good intentions to meaningful action. The conversation also examines the differences between allies, mentors, and sponsors, the role leaders can play in fostering cultures of inclusion, and the challenges created by workplace dynamics such as "bro culture." Shawn and Michael share practical tools from their book that help individuals assess their allyship and identify potential advocates within their organizations. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how allyship benefits everyone, strengthens workplace culture, and creates opportunities for people to thrive together. In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about: The definition of allyship and why it mattersThe five levels of male allyshipWhy awareness is the foundation of allyshipThe role of courage in supporting othersHow allyship differs from mentorship and sponsorshipThe impact of workplace culture on inclusionCommon barriers that prevent men from becoming alliesThe influence of "bro culture" in organizationsPractical tools for identifying and developing alliesWhy allyship benefits both individuals and organizations  Learn more about Michael and Shawn: Read: The 5 Levels of Male Allyship: A Guide to Building Better Teams Through Real InclusionTake the assessment: 5 Levels of Allyship Assessment  Visit drshawnandrews.com/5levelsofallyshipFollow Shawn Andrews on LinkedInVisit michaelobrienshift.com/Follow Michael O’Brien on Linkedin Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Heather Hansen O'Neill, a keynote speaker, coach, leadership expert, author, and former professional dancer whose career journey has been defined by reinvention, resilience, and curiosity. Heather shares how dance became her safe place from a young age, leading her to a professional performing career before a devastating injury abruptly changed her path forever. Heather reflects on the difficult transition that followed losing the career she loved, the years she spent searching for direction, and the powerful “what if?” question that ultimately helped her rediscover joy and purpose. She discusses how her experiences shaped her work helping leaders and organizations create more human-centered cultures, build meaningful connections, and rethink the way they approach sales, leadership, and career fulfillment. Tammy and Heather also explore the importance of listening to your inner voice amid life’s noise, embracing reinvention at every stage of life, and staying resilient through rejection and uncertainty. Heather shares lessons from the dance world that continue to guide her today, including why sometimes not getting the role you wanted may lead you to the one that truly fits. In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about: How Heather’s professional dance career shaped her identity and leadership styleWhat happened after a career-ending injury changed the direction of her lifeWhy curiosity and asking “what if?” can open new possibilitiesHow human connection transforms leadership, sales, and workplace cultureThe importance of listening to your inner voice amid external noiseWhy many professionals feel disconnected from their work—and how to reconnectHow Heather transitioned from sales into coaching, speaking, and authorshipLessons about resilience, rejection, and persistence from the dance worldWhy reinvention often begins with letting go of old expectationsHow setbacks can ultimately lead to more meaningful opportunities  Learn more about Heather: Visit: heatherhansenoneill.comFollow Heather on LinkedInListen: From Fear to Fire PodcastRead: Teams on Fire! Transforming your group into a more productive, profitable and motivated teamRead: Find Your Fire at Forty: Creating a Joyful Life During the Age of DiscontentRead: Where's the Office?: Moving Today's Leaders from What IS to What CAN BERead: Finding Humanity: The Evolution of SalesWatch: Become Conscious -You Must & Can Change the World  Watch: Let go and let fly! Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Deborah Farone, consultant, speaker, former chief marketing officer at two international law firms, and author of Best Practices in Law Firm Business Development and Marketing and Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Partners Build Thriving Practices. Deborah shares how her fascination with marketing began in childhood and evolved into a remarkable career helping professional service firms strengthen relationships, build trust, and grow thriving businesses. Deborah reflects on the early experiences that shaped her career path, from creating handwritten job-tracking systems while applying to public relations agencies to persistently pursuing opportunities that aligned with her interests. She discusses how curiosity, authenticity, and a willingness to learn helped her move from public relations into leadership roles at prestigious firms including Debevoise & Plimpton and Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Along the way, she credits strong mentors, meaningful networking, and continuous learning as essential ingredients in her professional growth. Tammy and Deborah also explore the importance of creating a career rooted in genuine interests and strengths. Deborah shares insights from her consulting work and books, including how professionals can identify the kinds of work that energizes them most, develop authentic client relationships, and navigate career transitions with intention and resilience. In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about: Why persistence and creativity helped Deborah land her first job in public relationsHow curiosity has been a driving force throughout her careerThe importance of authenticity in leadership and business developmentWhat Deborah learned from working inside elite professional service firmsWhy strong writing skills can transform a career in communicationsHow networking and relationship-building create long-term opportunitiesWhy career transitions require both resilience and intentionalityHow professionals can identify the kinds of work that truly energizes themWhy building trust is essential for sustainable business developmentHow Deborah’s consulting and writing career evolved after leaving corporate leadership Learn more about Deborah: Follow Deborah on LinkedInInstagram: @deborahfaronebestpracticesLearn more deborahfarone.comRead: Best Practices in Law Firm Business Development and MarketingRead: Breaking Ground: How Successful Women Lawyers Build Thriving Practices  Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Miki Feldman Simon, an executive coach, global business leader, and author of Core Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact. Miki shares her journey across continents, industries, and roles, from growing up in Israel and Australia to stepping into leadership positions in HR, operations, and marketing, and ultimately establishing her path in executive coaching. Along the way, she reflects on the value of experimentation and how unexpected turns can become meaningful learning experiences. Miki introduces her CORE Leadership framework, a four-step model designed to help individuals lead themselves first in order to expand their impact. She explains the importance of clarifying values and priorities, translating intentions into consistent action, reflecting on internal patterns and limiting beliefs, and evaluating how one’s behavior is experienced by others. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes that leadership is not only about what we do, but also about who we choose to be in each moment. This conversation is especially relevant for anyone at a career crossroads or seeking greater fulfillment in their work. Miki shares how clarity around values, strengths, and definitions of success can build confidence and open new possibilities. Her insights offer both a mindset shift and practical tools to help listeners move forward with intention and create a more meaningful path from the inside out. In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about: How early career experiments can shape long term successWhy leadership begins with leading yourself firstThe CORE framework, clarify, operationalize, reflect, and evaluateThe difference between intentions and actual impact on othersHow breaking down strengths into skills opens new career possibilitiesWhy clarity builds confidence during career transitionsThe importance of pausing before deciding what comes nextHow small consistent habits create lasting change Learn more about Miki: Visit mikifeldmansimon.com/Follow Miki on LinkedIn Read: Core Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact  Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Dr. David Charles, educator, executive coach, and former industry leader whose career spans consulting, analytics, innovation, and academia. David shares how early influences in science and engineering led him into technology, and how a series of unexpected pivots shaped a career grounded in curiosity, learning, and growth. David reflects on key transitions, from consulting to corporate leadership roles at organizations like CVS Health and John Deere, and eventually into academia. Along the way, he explores how networking, continuous learning, and a willingness to step into the unknown opened doors he never anticipated. He also discusses the importance of understanding what you enjoy in your work, especially the value of seeing the real-world impact of your contributions. Today, as a faculty member and coach, David helps others navigate their own career journeys. He emphasizes the importance of staying curious, building meaningful connections, and being open to opportunities that may not initially seem like the obvious next step. His story is a powerful reminder that careers are rarely linear and that growth often comes from embracing what you do not yet know. In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about: How early career decisions do not have to define your long-term pathWhy curiosity is one of the most valuable career skills you can developThe role of networking in uncovering unexpected opportunitiesHow to evaluate whether you enjoy the work or just the subject matterThe difference between learning in theory and seeing real-world impactWhat it takes to transition across industries successfullyLessons from moving between large organizations and startup environmentsThe importance of understanding what you do not know yetHow coaching can expand your perspective on business and leadershipWhy building relationships is more powerful than having the perfect pitch  Learn more about David: Follow David on LinkedInVisit drdavidscharles.comSubscribe and read Substack Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb speaks with Kate Kayaian, a former professional cellist turned career strategist, author, and coach. Kate shares her journey from performing on world-class stages to making the bold decision to step away from a successful music career in her forties. What makes her story especially powerful is that nothing was “wrong” on the outside. She had built a life many would aspire to, yet something no longer fit. Kate opens up about the internal shift that led her to question her path, including the realization that success as she had defined it no longer aligned with the life she wanted to live. Through the unexpected pause of the pandemic, she began experimenting with new ways of working, which led to coaching, creating programs, and ultimately discovering work that felt more meaningful and aligned. Her story challenges the belief that we must stay on a path simply because it has been successful. Together, Tammy and Kate explore what it means to redefine potential on your own terms, how to move past the stories that keep you stuck, and why it is never too late to pivot. Kate also shares a simple yet powerful mindset shift that can help you move from feeling blocked to seeing new possibilities. This conversation is an invitation to rethink what is possible for your next chapter. In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about: How to recognize when a successful career no longer aligns with your valuesWhy external success does not always translate to internal fulfillmentThe role of identity in keeping you stuck in a path that no longer fitsHow the pandemic created unexpected opportunities for reinventionThe difference between ego-driven success and purpose-driven workWhy you do not need a crisis to justify making a changeHow to translate existing skills into a completely new career directionThe power of questioning the stories you tell yourself about your past, present, and futureA practical mindset shift from “no, because” to “yes, if”How to begin redefining your potential on your own terms Learn more about Kate: Read: Beyond Potential: A Guide for Creatives Who Want to Re-Assess, Re-Define, and Re-Ignite Their CareersListen: Tales from the Lane podcastVisit: katekayaian.comFollow Kate on Instagram: @kkayaianGet on the Wait List: Creatives Leadership Academy Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

What does leadership look like in a world where emotions are more present at work than ever before? In this episode, Tammy speaks with executive coach, strategic advisor, and author Dina Denham Smith about the increasing emotional demands placed on leaders today. Drawing on her background in organizational psychology, business, and executive leadership, Dina shares how workplaces have changed and why leaders are being charged with navigating situations that go well beyond traditional management practices. In her new book, Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work, she connects the dots between the complexities of intensified emotions in the workplace and the practical approaches needed to lead a trusting and engaged workforce.  Dina reflects on her early life growing up on a boys boarding school campus and how that environment shaped her confidence, communication style, and comfort speaking up in male dominated settings. She also shares the path that led her from studying organizational  psychology to earning an MBA, working in consulting and private equity, and eventually building a successful executive coaching practice. Tammy and Dina also explore the concept of emotional labor in leadership. Dina explains why the emotional expectations placed on leaders have intensified in recent years and offers practical insights for navigating difficult conversations, supporting teams through change, and leading effectively in an emotionally complex workplace. In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about: How Dina’s unconventional childhood shaped her confidence and communication styleWhy early work experiences influenced her interest in workplace psychologyThe path from studying organizational psychology to earning an MBA and moving into consultingWhat she learned working in organizational strategy and corporate transformationDina’s transition from corporate leadership roles into executive coachingWhy writing became an important part of her professional workThe concept of emotional labor and how it applies to leadershipWhy leaders today face higher emotional demands than in the pastHow leaders can navigate emotionally charged conversations with their teamsPractical ways to explore career changes through experimentation rather than overthinking Learn more about Dina: Website: www.dinadsmith.comBook: Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of WorkLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-denham-smith/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinadsmith71/ Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

What if meetings didn’t have to feel like a drain, but instead became one of the most powerful tools for collaboration and career growth? In this episode, I’m joined by Rebecca Hinds, organizational behavior expert and author of Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done. Rebecca shares how her early years as a competitive swimmer shaped her understanding of teamwork and why putting the team first ultimately elevates individual success. We explore the science of collaboration, what most organizations get wrong about meetings, and why so many well-intentioned efforts, including AI rollouts, fail due to human resistance rather than technical limitations. Rebecca explains the “4D rule” for deciding whether a meeting should even exist, how network science can transform career advancement, and why cognitive wandering is essential for innovation. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by inefficient meetings, skeptical about AI at work, or unsure how to position yourself for what’s next in your career, this conversation offers both research-backed insights and practical ways to rethink how you show up for your team and for yourself. In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about: How Rebecca’s experience as a competitive swimmer shaped her understanding of teamworkWhy organizations often reward individual performance over team success and why that’s a mistakeThe 4D rule for determining whether a meeting should existDropbox’s radical “Meeting Gettin’” experimentThe hidden psychology behind meeting overloadHow network science influences career advancementWhy weak ties (not strong ones) often lead to new opportunitiesWhat “cognitive wandering” is and why it fuels innovationWhy AI initiatives fail due to human resistance, not technical limitationsHow to combine disciplines to create a unique competitive advantageWhy designing and running effective meetings is a high-value leadership skill Learn more about Rebecca: Read: Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things DoneVisit: RebeccaHinds.comFollow on LinkedIn: @rebecca-hinds Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInBuy Me A CoffeeWork From The Inside Out WebsiteSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb