257| Choosing a Word for the Year
Future Female Leaders
In this episode, Nichole Harrop dives into the practice of selecting a Word of the Year to guide personal and professional growth. She shares her own process of choosing the word Momentum for 2025 and how it aligns with her goals. Nichole also offers practical tips for selecting a word, incorporating accountability, and using AI tools to brainstorm meaningful options. Don't forget to get your copy of the What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why choosing a word of the year can provide clarity and motivation Nichole's personal journey with goal-setting and accountability How to find a word that...
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256| Staying Relevant in the Tech World with Lauren Cohen
Future Female Leaders
Real quick, grab the . Nichole Harrop chats with co-worker Lauren Cohen about her incredible journey through nearly four decades in the tech industry. From programming on mainframes in the '80s to embracing cutting-edge AI and modern workplace technologies, Lauren shares her insights on staying adaptable and thriving in an ever-changing field. Lauren discusses how she navigated major transitions in technology, overcame challenges as a woman in computer science, and continues to evolve in her role at Vasion. She offers actionable advice on managing change, collaborating across generations, and...
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255| Leading with Boundaries: How to Prioritize Well-Being Without Sacrificing Success with Amy Spurling
Future Female Leaders
Nichole chats with Amy Spurling, the CEO and Founder of Compt, about the power of leading with boundaries. Amy shares her personal journey of founding Compt at 40 after a successful career as a CFO and COO in the tech industry. She explains how Compt's global lifestyle benefits platform supports employees in a personalized way, empowering companies to meet their team members where they are in their life journeys. This conversation dives into key strategies for balancing well-being and career success, setting boundaries like "No Meeting Mondays," and embracing mental health as an integral part...
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254| Navigating Career Uncertainty: Strategies for Your Next Move with Andrea Yacub Macek
Future Female Leaders
In this episode, Nichole Harrop chats with career coach Andrea Yacub Macek to discuss navigating career uncertainty and creating strategies for your next career move. Andrea shares her personal journey, including how she transitioned from pursuing a medical career to climbing the corporate ladder, and finally finding her passion in helping women discover career alignment. Andrea and Nichole dive into topics like: How to recognize when you're at a career crossroads Common challenges women face in their careers, like toxic bosses or feeling lost in their roles The importance of sitting with...
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253| Getting Back Into the Workforce After a Break with Heather Nemelka
Future Female Leaders
Check out the to grow in your career. In this episode, Nichole Harrop sits down with Heather Nemelka, a single mother of five who re-entered the workforce after an 18-year break. Heather shares her inspiring journey of navigating career pivots, regaining confidence, and launching her own business, Elevare, to help women—especially single mothers—return to the workforce. Heather discusses the challenges she faced, including the self-doubt that comes with re-entering the workforce after a long break. She offers actionable advice on using informational interviews to build confidence, making...
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252| Start With Leading Yourself with Elizabeth Lotardo
Future Female Leaders
This podcast episode with Elizabeth Lotardo dives deep into the importance of leading yourself effectively as a foundation for transitioning into leadership roles. Elizabeth shares her insights on how to shift focus from unattainable output goals to manageable input goals, empowering individuals to control what they can and improve their performance. She emphasizes that leading yourself is about identifying and maximizing what is within your control—like your mindset, emotional response, and daily actions—while recognizing the power this brings in both personal and...
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251| What to Do After You Get Turned down for a Leadership Role
Future Female Leaders
In this episode of the Future Female Leaders podcast, Nichole Harrop discusses what to do after not being promoted to a leadership role. Nichole offers insights into the emotional and strategic steps you can take to turn the experience into an opportunity for growth. Whether the role was filled by an external or internal hire, Nichole shares advice on how to navigate the situation with grace, support the new leader, and continue your own career development. Get your copy of the here. Connect with . Key Takeaways: Reflect on Your Leadership Aspirations: Before jumping into the...
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250| Celebrating Milestones
Future Female Leaders
Episode Summary: In this special milestone episode, Nichole Harrop reflects on the journey of creating and growing the Future Female Leaders podcast. Nichole shares her experiences, challenges, and accomplishments over the past five years, celebrating the podcast's 250th episode. She discusses the importance of celebrating milestones, the evolution of her podcasting skills, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. Key Points Covered: Introduction and Milestone Celebration Nichole celebrates the 250th episode and reflects on starting the podcast nearly five years ago. Emphasizes the...
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249| A Different Way to Look at Career Growth
Future Female Leaders
Get the Connect with In this episode, Nichole Harrop reflects on her past approach to career growth and shares how she wishes she had focused more on holistic growth rather than just climbing the corporate ladder. She discusses the importance of celebrating each step of the journey and offers practical advice for maintaining a balanced and fulfilling career trajectory. Key Takeaways: Career Growth Guide: Nichole introduces a helpful resource, the Career Growth Guide, to assist listeners in establishing a consistent and effective growth strategy. LinkedIn Importance: She stresses the...
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248| What to Think about When Building a Personal Brand
Future Female Leaders
Episode Highlights: Importance of Building a Personal Brand: Focus on LinkedIn, but also applicable in general. Creating a personal brand helps in career growth and visibility. Reminder: Check the link in the show notes for career growth resources. The Career Growth Guide is a valuable tool to complement building your brand. Personal Brand Backstory: Nichole's experience as a career job hopper and the fresh start it offers. Importance of professionalism and maintaining a positive reputation. Key Points on Building a Personal Brand: Reflect on how you make people feel...
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In this episode of the Future Female Leaders podcast, host Nichole Harrop interviews Cecily Jorgensen, a marketing professional who shares her journey of transitioning from a background in vocal performance to a successful career in marketing. Cecily highlights her professional growth, personal interests, and how her passion for leadership drives her.
Cecily began her career with aspirations of becoming a local performer but transitioned into an office job to contribute to her family's financial goals. She quickly adapted to different roles within the company, moving from an executive assistant to content marketing manager and eventually working in customer success. Her ability to excel in these roles allowed her to demonstrate her competence and led to more responsibilities.
She emphasizes the importance of learning the core responsibilities of your job quickly, which can set you apart and lead to additional opportunities. Building connections with colleagues, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and finding solutions to their pain points can help you stand out and gain their respect.
Cecily also shares her journey into office politics and how she learned to navigate it. Recognizing that not everyone has the same goals, Cecily advises others to listen to their intuition and be assertive when needed. She emphasizes that being bold and proactive has been instrumental in her professional growth.
Both Nichole and Cecily agree on the significance of fostering meaningful connections in the workplace and how these connections can enhance your experience and drive success. They encourage leaders to actively support and create environments where employee engagement and connection are valued.
Originally, Cecily had her sights set on a career in local performance. However, her family's financial goals led her to an office job. In this new environment, she quickly adapted to various roles, progressing from an executive assistant to a content marketing manager, and eventually, working in customer success. Her knack for excelling in these positions showcased her competence, opening doors to more significant responsibilities.
One key takeaway from Cecily's journey is the importance of swiftly mastering the core responsibilities of your role. This proficiency can set you apart and result in additional opportunities. Building strong connections with colleagues, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and actively finding solutions to their pain points can help you stand out and earn their respect.
Cecily also shares insights into navigating office politics. She learned to recognize that not everyone shares the same goals, emphasizing the significance of listening to your intuition and asserting yourself when necessary. Her success in the corporate world has been underpinned by her bold and proactive approach.
In summary, Cecily Jorgensen's story is an inspiring example of how someone with a background in a completely different field can successfully transition into a career in marketing and climb the corporate ladder by embracing opportunities, learning quickly, and navigating office politics with assertiveness and resilience.
The episode underscores the importance of building connections, solving problems, and recognizing your own potential for growth, regardless of your initial career aspirations. Cecily's journey serves as a reminder that, with determination and adaptability, it's possible to excel in leadership roles and make a significant impact in your chosen field.