From Burnout to Breakthrough: Reclaiming Your Power Through Self-Leadership
The Power of Owning Your Career Podcast
Release Date: 06/02/2025
The Power of Owning Your Career Podcast
🚨 Why does hard work never seem to be enough? You're crushing it at your job. Delivering results. Yet somehow, you're still invisible when promotion conversations happen. Sound familiar? This week, Simone sits down with Lorraine Lee—LinkedIn's founding editor turned LinkedIn Learning powerhouse—who learned this lesson the hard way after being passed over for promotion despite years of excellence. Her response? She built the Epic Career Brand Framework that's now helped thousands go from overlooked to unforgettable. Here's what you'll discover: ✅ The #1 reason hard work alone...
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This is it—the Season 15 finale. And if you've been waiting for a sign to take control of your career FINALLY—THIS IS IT. After 15 seasons and 200+ episodes, host Simone Morris is closing out this incredible chapter with the most important lesson of all: You are the driver of your career. Not your boss. Not the economy. Not "luck." YOU. In this powerful finale, Simone breaks down her game-changing framework from "52 Tips for Owning Your Career"—starting with the #1 step most people skip: claiming ownership. Because here's the truth: you can't steer what you...
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Welcome to this week’s episode of The Power of Owning Your Career Podcast! I’m your host, Simone E. Morris, and today’s episode is a heartfelt celebration of gratitude and growth as we reflect on seven incredible years of the show. With over 200 episodes under our belt, we take you behind the scenes—from the origins of the podcast, born out of the book “The Power of Owning Your Career,” to the powerful stories of leaders, personal milestones, and the lessons learned along the way. In this episode, Simone E. Morris looks back on her journey, shares the pivotal experiences that...
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This week on the Power of Owning Your Career Podcast, host Simone Morris interviews Steve Jaffe—San Diego native, veteran marketer, and author of The Layoff Journey. Steve’s story is a testament to resilience and reinvention, showing that setbacks can spark your greatest professional pivots. From launching his career in journalism to shaping iconic campaigns like “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas,” Steve enjoyed 25+ successful years in advertising, in-house marketing, and consulting before confronting—and thriving through—not one but four career layoffs. In this...
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This week on the Power of Owning Your Career Podcast, host Simone Morris interviews Dr. Yosi Amram—licensed clinical psychologist, CEO, leadership coach, and pioneering researcher in spiritual intelligence. From his decorated beginnings as an Israeli military leader to founding and taking two tech companies public in Silicon Valley, Dr. Amram’s career journey is a masterclass in growth, reinvention, and awakening. But it was a personal spiritual crisis—at the peak of his business success—that transformed his understanding of leadership, purpose, and fulfillment. In this insightful...
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This week on the Power of Owning Your Career Podcast, host Simone Morris sits down with Kai-Nneka Townsend—a leadership, resilience, and burnout consultant whose global career journey has shaped her mission to help high-pressure industries achieve sustainable success without sacrificing wellbeing. As the founder of Rise by KCL, Kai-Nneka Townsend draws on lived experience in international development, public health, and corporate leadership across Jamaica, the UK, and beyond. In this insightful episode, Kai-Nneka Townsend reveals how her childhood dream...
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This week on the Power of Owning Your Career Podcast, host Simone Morris welcomes Keith Willis—leadership expert, entrepreneur, and Founder of Core Management Training. Keith’s journey is indicative of how careers thrive by intentional design, not by chance. Starting out as a U.S. Army Junior Officer, Keith made the leap to corporate America through the Cameron-Brooks Development & Preparation Program, a pivotal experience that shaped his passion for helping others own their career trajectories. Keith built an impressive resume with award-winning roles in sales and training at industry...
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This week on the Power of Owning Your Career Podcast, host Simone Morris welcomes Fadjanie Cadet, seasoned HR and inclusion strategist, author of "In First Place," and self-proclaimed Chief Change Experience Officer. Fadjanie's remarkable journey—from her upbringing as a first-generation Haitian American to leading talent engagement and culture transformation at top companies—offers essential lessons for those ready to take the wheel in their professional lives. Join Simone and Fajani for a heartfelt and practical conversation brimming with actionable tips. Fadjanie discusses how she...
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This week on the Power of Owning Your Career Podcast, host Simone Morris welcomes Charlotte Dales, co-founder and CEO of Inclusively, for a lively and insightful discussion on charting your own course and building inclusive workplaces. Charlotte shares her remarkable journey—from banking at Deutsche Bank to starting successful companies and sparking positive change after being inspired by her cousin’s achievements. Tune in for actionable tips on handling rejection, planning bold career moves, leveraging technology for growth, and embracing a mindset that keeps you in the driver’s...
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Welcome to another insightful episode of The Power of Owning Your Career podcast! This week, host Simone E. Morris is joined by Goldie Chan—dubbed “The Oprah of LinkedIn,” acclaimed author of Personal Branding for Introverts, and founder of the award-winning social strategy agency Warm Robots. In this vibrant conversation, Goldie shares her inspiring and unconventional career journey—from dreaming of being a classroom teacher, to running a fashion brand in her twenties, to ultimately becoming a marketing powerhouse and global keynote speaker with nearly half a million followers. Goldie...
info_outlineTake control of your career path! In this vibrant episode of The Power of Owning Your Career Podcast, Simone E. Morris interviews Elizabeth Lotardo, a renowned consultant, LinkedIn Learning instructor, Harvard Business Review contributor, and author of the new book Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have (Despite Imperfect Bosses, Weird Economies, Lethargic Coworkers, Annoying Systems, and Too Many Deliverables).
Join them as they explore the true meaning of self-leadership, cultivating authenticity at work, and navigating inevitable career twists and turns. Elizabeth shares her impactful personal journey, the resilience learned through motherhood and adversity, and the profound power of investing in yourself.
Gain practical strategies to flourish, specifically designed for when your job feels less than ideal. Learn to shed perfectionism, move beyond rigid career paths, and discover unexpected opportunities. This conversation tackles the challenges of authenticity, overcoming setbacks, leaning into discomfort, and effectively leveraging LinkedIn.
If you're feeling professionally stagnant, navigating job transitions, or redefining your career identity, this episode offers invaluable insights and actionable advice to find purpose and joy in your work exactly where you are. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that will empower you to step into your next professional chapter confidently!
Connect with Simone: simonemorrisenterprises.org
Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn and discover her new book, Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have
Elizabeth Lotardo Bio:
Elizabeth Lotardo empowers organizations to foster emotional engagement. A consultant, writer, and training creator, she has partnered with leaders across 150+ organizations, including Salesforce, DraftKings, and Hilton. Millions have benefited from her LinkedIn Learning courses, such as "Leading without Formal Authority." Elizabeth is a Harvard Business Review contributor, author of Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have, and co-author of Selling with Noble Purpose. Her expertise has been highlighted in The Wall Street Journal and on NPR.
Time Stamp Of This Episode:
[00:00:02] – [00:01:39] | Introduction
[00:01:39] – [00:02:38] | Elizabeth’s Background
[00:02:38] – [00:05:08] | Taking the Driver’s Seat: Elizabeth’s Turning Point
[00:05:08] – [00:08:35] | Key Ingredients for Career Ownership
[00:08:35] – [00:11:25] | Unlearning Linear Success and Embracing Risk
[00:11:25] – [00:13:44] | Navigating Imperfect Work Situations
[00:13:44] – [00:17:18] | The Complexity of Authenticity at Work
[00:17:18] – [00:20:30] | LinkedIn, Visibility, and Overcoming Fear of Judgment
[00:20:30] – [00:21:26] | LinkedIn Tips and Professional Branding
[00:21:26] – [00:23:17] | Learning and Leveling Up: Helpful Resources
[00:23:17] – [00:25:29] | Embracing Turbulence and Finding Empowerment
[00:25:29] – [00:26:46] | Closing and Where to Connect
Here are the valuable resources Elizabeth and Simone discussed:
- Elizabeth Lotardo's Book: Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have (Despite Imperfect Bosses, Weird Economies, Lethargic Coworkers, Annoying Systems, and Too Many Deliverables)
- Mentioned by Elizabeth:
- The Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware (for authenticity and living true to yourself)
- Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein (for embracing non-linear career paths)
- Elizabeth Lotardo's LinkedIn Courses: Explore her professional development courses on LinkedIn Learning.
- Simone Morris's Book: 52 Tips for Owning Your Career (for advice on betting on yourself)
- Simone Morris Enterprises Website: Visit simonemorrisenterprises.org for more resources, coaching, and information.