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Computer Science Graduates: How to Thrive Beyond Hiring Freeze and Layoffs
Computer science (CS) graduates face some of the highest unemployment and underemployment rates among recent graduates. While the unemployment rate is reported as 6.1%, the underemployment rate is also relatively high, at 16.5%, according to some contributors on Reddit. Since the pandemic, the number of entry-level hires in Big Tech has plummeted, leaving many young professionals and their families disheartened. If you’re one of them, you may be applying to hundreds of jobs only to get automated rejections. It’s frustrating and demoralizing. It makes you question your worth. But here’s the truth: while the tech landscape is changing, your skills as a computer science graduate are more valuable than ever. You just…
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From Exhaustion to Empowerment: How Jessica Transformed Her Leadership Mindset
Discover how a high-performing woman of color shifted from exhaustion and burnout to strategic, confident leadership—and built a healthier, more fulfilling life. When Jessica began her coaching journey, her life looked flawless from the outside. She was the go-to person for her team and manager, the reliable high-performer who delivered no matter the challenge. Her open-door policy was legendary, and her team respected and liked her. But behind the scenes, Jessica was running on empty. She was consistently the last one to log off, the “cleanup crew” for any messes, and the person who quietly took on extra work to ensure quality. This self-sacrificing pattern extended beyond work into her…
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Leading by Letting Go: Leadership Lessons As a Parent
Summary: In this heartfelt reflection on my daughter’s college graduation, I explored the deep parallels between parenting and leadership. Through personal stories, I shared three powerful lessons: empowering others to lead their journey, embracing the strength of community, and mastering the art of letting go. The piece reveals how executive coaching—like parenting—is not about control, but about guiding growth with trust, presence, and compassion. This past week, I watched my daughter formally receive her bachelor’s degree from New York University. As I reflected on her journey, I realized the deep connection between leadership and parenting. It was one of those moments where time folds in on itself—the tiny child who…
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My Career Shift from Coding to Coaching: A Quest for Joy and Purpose
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Career satisfaction, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, EQ, Executive Presence, Leadership, Self-leadership, Success Strategy
Confidence Is Not the Absence of Doubt
Carol, a senior leader in healthcare, recently transitioned from HR to strategy. She felt out of her depth. In leadership meetings, she hesitated to share her opinions, lacking the confidence she once had after 30 years in HR. Similarly, Steve, a veteran financial executive, had just stepped into a new role. Playing it safe, he stayed agreeable and held back. But over time, his frustration grew as he struggled to gain support for his initiatives. It’s true that decades of experience can bolster confidence, but we don’t always have the luxury of time. The good news? Confidence isn’t solely built on tenure. It’s about finding the conviction to move forward…
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What Driving Teaches Us About Navigating Our Careers
I was chatting with Andrea, a senior director at a major corporation in Seattle. Brilliant and hardworking, her resume spoke volumes about her accomplishments. Yet, in this new role, she was hitting unexpected roadblocks. The feedback she received was clear: people didn’t understand the value she was bringing to the organization, and her contributions were flying under the radar. Andrea believed the solution was simple—if only she could be more vocal in meetings and better at promoting her achievements. But deep down, she wasn’t confident in her contributions either. Most of her time was spent stabilizing her team, handling layoffs, and navigating an organization with shifting priorities and limited resources.…
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Communication, Emotional Intelligence, EQ, Executive Presence, Leadership, Neuroscience, Self-leadership
Demystifying Executive Presence
A senior engineering leader reached out to me for coaching. His credentials were impeccable—multiple graduate degrees from prestigious universities and an impressive professional track record. Yet, he was told to improve his Executive Presence (EP). His question? “What does that even mean?“ Through our conversation, we identified his challenge: he struggled to deliver his points with clarity and conciseness during senior leadership meetings. This reminded me of another client—let’s call him Joe, a senior product manager. Joe was in the middle of a presentation when his VP interrupted, asking for the bottom line. Frustrated, Joe thought, Why won’t he let me finish my presentation? Later, when he shared this with…
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Falling Behind on New Year’s Goals? Here’s How to Bounce Back
Did you know that most New Year’s resolutions don’t make it past spring? According to a Forbes Health/OnePoll survey, the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months, with 65% of people abandoning their goals within four months. To make matters worse, unofficial holidays like “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day” (January 17) and “Quitter’s Day” (the second Friday in January) highlight how quickly motivation can fade. If you’ve already started wavering on your resolutions, don’t worry—you’re not alone. More importantly, you’re not doomed to fail. Understanding the root causes behind these setbacks allows you to adjust your approach and set yourself up for success. Here are the three key reasons resolutions often…
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Reflect and Rejoice: Celebrate Your Year Through Reflection
As the year winds down, many of us find ourselves juggling last-minute deadlines, holiday preparations, and the anticipation of spending quality time with loved ones. Amid this busy season, carving out moments for a year-end reflection can be a transformative practice. It offers a chance to celebrate your journey, gain clarity on your growth, and lay the foundation for intentional goals in the new year. Taking the time to pause and ask, “How did the year unfold for me?” can lead to valuable insights. However, relying solely on memory might not provide a comprehensive view. A structured approach can help uncover hidden patterns, achievements, and lessons from the past year.…
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Why Goals Often Fails—and How to Build Habits That Stick
Have you ever worked on a leadership goal like improving your executive presence or a personal goal such as eating healthy? The usual advice on achieving goals is to “break your goals into smaller steps,” which sounds wise but may not work in such cases. It assumes the task is linear, such as climbing stairs, where each step is identical, and you make linear progress with each step. We often assume it can be achieved through sheer willpower or pushing harder. But if we treat a habit such as an exercise regimen as linear, like putting on exercise clothes, going to the gym, and performing the exercise, we oversimplify the problem.…
