Secrets of the Career Game

Do you want to know a secret? The corporate world is a game: one laden with cleverly hidden and unspoken rules that most employees don’t know they are playing. On this show, we help you peek behind the curtain to understand the corporate game and set yourself up for accelerate growth and progression.

151. The Productivity Lie That's Destroying High Achievers with Sade Kelly 08/17/2026

151. The Productivity Lie That's Destroying High Achievers with Sade Kelly Time management for high achievers fails when every available hour becomes another opportunity to take on more. My Ideal Weekly Schedule Guide Now https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-my-ideal-weekly-schedule-guide-now High achievers often confuse capability with capacity — then wonder why their demanding workload leaves them exhausted. On Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg asks Sade Kelly how ambitious professionals can stop planning around available hours and start planning around energy, priorities, and realistic capacity. Sade reframes time management for high achievers: why completing more tasks doesn't equal meaningful productivity, and why burnout often comes not from doing too much, but from spending too long on work that feels misaligned. Kendall and Sade break down a weekly planning system, themed days, and three core routines — a productivity system built to protect your energy at work, build high performance habits, and keep you productive without burning out. What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About Sade Kelly: I’m Sade Kelly, the CEO & Founder of The Fire Inside, a high-performance coaching company that helps high-achieving women reclaim 10+ hours a week to grow their careers and businesses, stay consistent, and make space for what matters most—without burning out. Website: Instagram: /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/42457865

150. Your Boss Has No Idea How Much You Do with Kelley Nolan 08/10/2026

150. Your Boss Has No Idea How Much You Do with Kelley Nolan Is your calendar telling the truth about your workload — or are you silently drowning in invisible tasks? My Ideal Weekly Schedule Guide Now Most professionals plan their day as if eight hours equals eight productive hours. It doesn't. That mismatch is why capable people keep overcommitting, drowning in meetings, and fearing that saying "no" makes them look weak. On this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg sits down with time-management strategist Kelly Nolan, creator of the Bright Method — a calendar-first system that makes invisible work visible, protects your focus time, and gives you the data to push back strategically. "If it doesn't fit in the hours of the day, you are objectively trying to do too much. And that's just the end of it." In this episode: How to measure your real capacity (hint: your calendar is lying to you) Why an eight-hour workday rarely holds eight productive hours How to tell your boss you have too much work — without looking incapable The meeting audit that frees up hours of focus time every week Why saying no, backed by data, is leadership — not weakness What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About Kelley Nolan: Website: Instagram: /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/42375460

149. 5 Rules That Keep My Week From Falling Apart 08/03/2026

148. Why You're Afraid of Getting Fired (Even Though You're the Best Performer) 07/27/2026

148. Why You're Afraid of Getting Fired (Even Though You're the Best Performer) You climbed the ladder. You hit the goals. So why do you still check your phone at 2 AM, terrified it'll all disappear? High-achiever burnout doesn't look like exhaustion — it looks like success with a side of constant anxiety. FREE Communication Guide Now: Anna Wojtowicz joins Kendall Berg on Secrets of the Corporate Game, together they break down why your ambition might be running on survival mode and how to succeed without abandoning yourself. Anna Wojtowicz, creator of the "ambition rooted in wholeness" framework, explains why high-achieving professionals often experience burnout, anxiety, and a persistent fear of failure despite outward success. In this conversation, you'll learn: How to tell if your ambition is actually "survival mode" in disguise Why success feels empty even after hitting every goal Nervous system regulation techniques that stop the burnout cycle The difference between fear-based ego thoughts and genuine intuition How to build a career that doesn't cost you your health or identity Anna's approach bridges psychology, nervous system science, and practical thought-sorting strategies — designed for high performers who are tired of winning on paper while losing themselves in the process. What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/42229065

147. High Achievers Who Make Work Their Identity Always Hit This Wall 07/20/2026

146. How I Stopped Working 24/7 and Finally Got Noticed as a Leader 07/13/2026

145. Your Job Title Is Not Your Identity with Katy Culver 07/06/2026

144. How to Play the Corporate Game: The Strategy That Actually Gets You Promoted 06/22/2026

143. Your Career Is Bigger Than One Bad Job with That Corporate Lawyer, Henry Nelson-Case 06/15/2026

142. My Husband Spent 13 Years in Corporate Sales — Here's What He Taught Me About the Rules No One Share 06/08/2026

141. Why Quitting Your Corporate Job Might Be the Worst Way to Start a Business with Mike Shannon 06/01/2026

141. Why Quitting Your Corporate Job Might Be the Worst Way to Start a Business with Mike Shannon There is a very loud version of entrepreneurship online right now: quit the job, burn the safety net, go all in, and figure it out later. I get the appeal. I also think that advice can get expensive very quickly, especially when the business has not been validated yet. Mike Shannon joins me to talk about the much messier, smarter side of starting a business. Mike has built multiple companies, appeared on Shark Tank, worked in AI, and wrote Sweaty Equity, a book about the unglamorous middle of entrepreneurship. His story is not the polished founder myth. It is Shark Tank one day, Chicago Bulls laundry room the next, then years of pivots, investor pressure, customer discovery, and learning how to actually build something that works. If you are a corporate professional, side hustler, first-time founder, or future entrepreneur wondering whether you should quit your job to start a business, this conversation is your reality check. We talk about why keeping your day job can create runway, why “build the thing, sell the thing” matters more than startup hype, and how to use messy action without blowing up your career stability. Inside this episode • Why quitting your job too early can create unnecessary founder pressure • How Mike Shannon went from Shark Tank with Mark Cuban to the Chicago Bulls laundry room • Why business validation matters more than investor validation • The simple startup framework: build the thing, sell the thing • How customer discovery helps you avoid forcing the wrong idea into the market • What Sweaty Equity reveals about the messy middle of entrepreneurship What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About Mike Shannon Prior to Impruve, Mike co-founded and served as CEO of , which pioneered “instructional AI” for the compliance-heavy Higher Education market with a product suite that scales the teaching impact of PhD college professor clientele. Packback’s software earned the trust of the 600 largest institutions and was named one of TIME’s Most Innovative Companies in Education. Throughout 12 years, Mike led it from a scrappy startup to $20M in ARR, 100+ employees, and a $50M+ all-cash acquisition by a leading private equity group — earning recognition from Inc. 500, Fast Company, Forbes 30 Under 30, and the Chicago Innovation Awards along the way. But his path wasn’t linear. After shaking Mark Cuban’s hand on ABC’s Shark Tank at a young age, Mike clocked in for his next shift folding towels as a “ball boy” in the Chicago Bulls locker room; a fun tale that culminated in Mike’s comedic entrepreneurship memoir, Sweaty Equity: A Ball Boy, A Billionaire, and the Bonkers Startup Tale You’ve Never Heard, which Mark Cuban described as “a wildly entertaining story!” Nowadays, Mike enjoys coaching Little League and spending time with his two young kids and wife. He co-hosts , a podcast featuring private equity-backed CEOs, founders, & investors. He also serves on the board of national entrepreneurship education non-profit Future Founders, where he dedicates yearlong mentorship hours.- /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/41482140

140. Your Schedule Is Full But You're Getting Nothing Done — 3 Time Management Tips That Actually Work 05/25/2026

139. You Keep Canceling on Yourself and Calling It Productivity with Dr. Shannon Burge 05/18/2026

138. The Real Reason Working Moms Burn Out (It's Not What You Think) 05/11/2026

137. Stop Succeeding. Start Unbecoming. | Lauren Kerr on Feminine Leadership 05/04/2026

137. Stop Succeeding. Start Unbecoming. | Lauren Kerr on Feminine Leadership What if success isn't the problem — it's that you've outgrown it? Lauren Kerr introduces the concept of "unbecoming": shedding who you were to step into who you're becoming — without burning out in the process. Lauren Kerr is a bestselling author and high-performance coach who helps high-achieving women lead with clarity, recover from burnout, and redefine success — without blowing everything up to do it. If you've hit every goal and still feel like something's off, this is the episode that names what you've been feeling. What we get into: → What "unbecoming" actually means — and why it's not about starting over → The silent handbrake keeping ambitious women stuck in a version of success they've outgrown → Why the drive that built your career may now be working against you → What feminine leadership looks like in practice (empathy isn't a weakness) → The "feather or the truck" — why ignoring small intuitive nudges leads to bigger crises → Time audits, Parkinson's Law, and how to design a week that actually fits your life → Lauren's personal goal this year: just enjoying motherhood (and why that had to be a written goal) What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About Lauren Kerr A Best-Selling Author, Mother, and High-Performance Coach for women leading companies and teams who want to create more income, freedom, and fulfilment. With over a decade of experience in Psychology and Coaching, and having built a 7-figure global business reaching the top .05% of her profession, Lauren specialises in helping women optimise and simplify how they think, work, and lead through the lens of feminine leadership. /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/41140900

136. Most Candidates Waste the First 5 Minutes of Their Interview — Here's What to Do Instead 04/27/2026

135. You're Qualified But Still Getting Overlooked — Here's Why with Nicholette Hemingway 04/20/2026

135. You're Qualified But Still Getting Overlooked — Here's Why with Nicholette Hemingway You're qualified. So why does it feel like no one notices? The problem usually isn't your experience. It's how you talk about it. In this episode, I sit down with career coach, Amazon best-selling author, and self-proclaimed "interview ologist" Nicolette Hemingway to unpack one of the most costly — and completely fixable — mistakes professionals make: assuming their work speaks for itself. Spoiler: it doesn't. And that belief alone could be what's standing between you and the job, promotion, or recognition you've already earned. Nicolette brings over 25 years of experience across every level of government, military service, and a career coaching practice built on one thing: helping talented people finally get seen. In this conversation, we go beyond generic interview advice and get into the real reasons qualified professionals get overlooked — and exactly what to do instead. What we cover: Why 98% of people fail interviews — and it has nothing to do with their resume How to tell your professional story in a way that makes hiring managers lean in The difference between listing tasks and communicating impact (and why it matters) Three questions that will completely change how you talk about your accomplishments What thank you emails actually signal to a hiring manager How to track your wins so you're never caught off guard in a review, interview, or promotion conversation Why staying in the background is quietly killing your career growth If you've ever walked out of an interview feeling like you didn't do yourself justice, or watched someone less qualified get the opportunity you deserved, this episode is for you. What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About Nicholette Y. Hemingway Nicholette is the founder of Nike H Speaks LLC, where she helps professionals with interview preparation, résumé writing, and career coaching. She is an Amazon #1 best-selling author, a retired Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service, and has spent more than 20 years serving on interview panels. Through her workshops and coaching, she helps military service members, students, and working professionals show up with more confidence in high-stakes career moments. Learn more at http://www.nikehspeaks.com/ /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/40921925

134. How to Plan a Job Search Before You Burn Out and Make the Wrong Move 04/13/2026

134. How to Plan a Job Search Before You Burn Out and Make the Wrong Move Too many people wait until work becomes unbearable before they start looking, and that is how smart professionals end up making desperate career moves. I have seen it happen over and over again. A toxic boss, a role that stopped fitting, a project that drains you, and suddenly you are trying to escape fast instead of thinking clearly. A strong job search starts long before you hit that breaking point. I walk through how to define what actually matters to you, how to build your personal brand, how to identify target roles and target companies, and how to use networking and internal mobility to create better options. The goal is not just to get out. The goal is to make a smarter move. This is for anyone who knows something at work is off, but does not want to panic quit and end up in the same situation somewhere else. If you want a more strategic job search, a clearer career direction, and a better way to evaluate your next opportunity, start here. Inside this episode How to know you are waiting too long to start a job search Why your personal brand matters before you apply anywhere How to define your passion statements and unique value Better interview questions to test company culture and job fit Why networking is the most important part of a job search How internal mobility can help you leave a bad role faster What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/40818815

133. You’re Not Bad at Interviews, You’re Preparing the Wrong Way with Irina Posan 04/06/2026

133. You’re Not Bad at Interviews, You’re Preparing the Wrong Way with Irina Posan Qualified professionals are getting rejected for jobs they should absolutely be landing. That’s why I wanted to chat with fellow career coach Irina Posan. We’ve both seen too many smart, ambitious professionals treat interviews like a memory test instead of a strategy exercise. Irina knows this world well as a former HR director and the host of the Career Cravings podcast. In our conversation, we get into why overpreparing can actually hurt your interview performance, how candidates lose clarity under pressure, and what it really takes to stand out in a crowded job market. We also talk about the mindset shifts that matter before you ever apply, including how to get clear on the right role, how to communicate your value without sounding rehearsed, and why hard work alone is not enough if you want to get promoted. Irina shares her Top Five Story Method for interview preparation, plus a powerful reminder that career growth often comes down to visibility, advocacy, and relationships. If you are job searching, preparing for interviews, or trying to position yourself for your next promotion, this is the kind of career advice that can change the way you approach your next move. In this episode, we discuss: • Why do qualified candidates still fail interviews? • How can I stand out in a competitive job market? • What is the best way to prepare for interview questions? • Why does overpreparing make interviews worse? • How do promotions really happen at work? What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About Irina Posan A career coach with 15 years of HR experience, including leading Recruitment and Talent Management teams. She brings insider insight into what it really takes to get hired, earn promotions, and succeed in leadership roles. From securing highly coveted job offers to advancing within competitive organizations, she helps ambitious professionals navigate every stage of career growth. Website: Instagram: Podcast Produded by /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/40738280

132 Stop Applying to Everything | The Job Search Strategy That Actually Gets Interviews 03/23/2026

132 Stop Applying to Everything | The Job Search Strategy That Actually Gets Interviews Applying to more jobs is not the answer if your search has no strategy behind it. Too many smart professionals spend weeks applying, tweaking, and refreshing their LinkedIn profiles, yet still feel nothing is moving. In this episode, I talk about why a scattered job search creates more frustration, not better results, and what to focus on instead if you want to land the right role. I walk through the three parts of your search you can actually control: how many jobs you apply to, how tailored your resume is, and how intentional your networking outreach is. I also share why I want you to stop casting such a wide net, why LinkedIn Easy Apply can pull you off track, and how to build real name recognition with hiring managers and recruiters through thoughtful outreach. 🎯 What you'll learn: → Why applying to 8 quality jobs beats applying to 80 → How to use LinkedIn to get referrals (step-by-step) → Why LinkedIn Easy Apply may be hurting your chances → How to tailor your resume with job-specific keywords → What makes a company the right fit — beyond the salary Resources Mentioned LinkedIn outreach scripts: My course with a job application tracker What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/40578415

131. Everyone Looks Rich Online: The Spending Reset You Need | Lucy from The Lucy Space 03/16/2026

131. Everyone Looks Rich Online: The Spending Reset You Need | Lucy from The Lucy Space Everyone looks rich online. New houses, European summers, luxury cars, and somehow no one ever mentions what it costs or whether it is intentionally helping you build the life you actually want. We work 40 hours a week, so of course we want to treat ourselves to nice dinners and beautiful trips. The difference is not whether we spend, but how we approach those decisions so we can build generational wealth and still create a rich life. I had a conversation with financial expert Lucy from The Lucy Space about what intentional spending actually looks like. Directing your money instead of letting it direct you. Using simple systems like a 30-day wait list, basic expense tracking, automated investing, and thoughtful travel planning. Not extreme budgeting. Not deprivation. Just clarity and control. What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About The Lucy Space The creator behind The Lucy Space. I’m a JD/MBA, corporate working mom, and content creator passionate about helping people live well financially, stylishly, and intentionally. Through my platform, I empower my audience to budget smarter, shop with purpose, and build a life that aligns with their values, without sacrificing style, joy, or peace of mind. With a professional background in law and business, I specialize in breaking down complex financial topics into practical, real-life strategies that are easy to understand and apply. My content blends money, lifestyle, travel, fashion, and family, offering tools and systems that help people feel confident and in control of both their finances and their time. /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/40358260

130. Invisible at Work? Your Personal Brand Is the Problem 03/09/2026

129. Don’t Make a Career Pivot Until You Answer These 5 Questions with Michelle Schaefer 03/02/2026

129. Don’t Make a Career Pivot Until You Answer These 5 Questions with Michelle Schaefer Making a career pivot without clarity is how smart professionals end up in the wrong job twice. Before you make a career change, you need a clear destination. That’s exactly why I wanted to interview Michelle Schaefer, bestselling author of Cultivating Career Growth, to talk about what actually creates a successful career transition. We walk through the five questions that create real career direction. We talk about the work that energizes you versus the work that drains you. We unpack what transferable skills really are, what real company culture actually looks like, and the non-negotiables every professional needs to identify in order to define long-term fulfillment. We also challenge some of the biggest job search myths circulating online. Sending hundreds of resumes without a strategy is not a plan. Online applications are only a small part of a strong job search strategy. And networking is not using people, even if it feels that way at first. We explain why it is the opposite. If you want referrals, influence, and real opportunities, you build relationships intentionally. If you are considering a career change, navigating a layoff, or questioning your current role, this conversation will help you move from emotional reaction to strategic career clarity. In this episode, we discuss: • What are the five questions to ask before making a career pivot? • Why does sending hundreds of resumes rarely lead to interviews? • How much of a job search should focus on networking? • How do you evaluate real company culture before accepting an offer? • What are career non-negotiables and how do they evolve over time? 🤝 Networking doesn’t have to be awkward. Learn how to connect authentically, grow your influence, and turn conversations into opportunities. What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About Michelle Schafer Michelle Schafer is an ICF-certified career and leadership coach, author and facilitator who helps professionals navigate career transitions with confidence and purpose. After experiencing two unexpected restructurings early in her career, Michelle discovered her true path: supporting people to move from job-search frustration into work that energizes them. As founder of Michelle Schafer Coaching, she partners with clients across federal and municipal government, high tech, financial services and not-for-profit sectors, helping them clarify career direction, craft compelling personal brands and land roles where their values align. Her award-winning #1 bestseller Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with Purpose and her recognition as one of Ottawa’s Top Coaches in 2024 underscore her impact. LinkedIn: Website: A free chapter from my book - sign up here: Order my book Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with Purpose here: Download the reflection tool Career Focus Framework here: Email me here: Book a complimentary 30 min discovery call with me here: /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/40234610

128. How to Communicate So Senior Leaders Actually Listen 02/23/2026

127. Why Your Team Waits for You: The Hidden Cost of Solving Every Problem with Leah Marone 02/16/2026

127. Why Your Team Waits for You: The Hidden Cost of Solving Every Problem with Leah Marone If your team can’t move without you, you don’t have leadership; you have dependence. Kendall Berg sits down with Leah Marone to unpack the Support, Don’t Solve leadership model. This is the shift that stops constant interruption. It also builds real ownership. Leah explains why leaders often jump in too quickly, how this creates a dependency loop, and what to do instead. You will hear the first move that changes everything: validation first. Then questions. Then space. This episode is for the manager who is always on call. It is also for the high performer who wants to advance without carrying the whole team. You will walk away with a clear reframe, simple boundaries that still feel human, and language you can use the next time someone brings you a problem. In this episode, we discuss: Why does my team rely on me for every decision at work? How do I stop being the problem solver without sounding cold? What does “support, don’t solve” look like in real leadership conversations? How do I set boundaries at work while still leading with empathy? What should I say first when someone brings me a problem? What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: Leah Marone is a psychotherapist, Yale Clinical Instructor, and corporate mental wellness consultant with over 20 years of experience. A former Division 1 athlete, she specializes in high-achievers struggling with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and performance anxiety. Leah has conducted over 20,000 therapy sessions and contributed to Psychology Today, Newsweek, and The Atlantic. She works with organizations on burnout prevention, boundary setting, and emotional intelligence. A sought-after speaker, Leah has presented her Support, Don’t Solve framework to leaders nationwide. Her new book, Serial Fixer, releases November 11th, exploring the hidden patterns of over-functioning and how to break free. /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/39453215

126. Before You Quit Your Job Over a Bad Raise, Listen to This First 02/09/2026

126. Before You Quit Your Job Over a Bad Raise, Listen to This First You didn’t get the raise or promotion you wanted, and suddenly quitting feels like the only way to get unstuck. Kendall Berg explains why that reaction is exactly how people end up hurting their long-term careers. She breaks down the difference between staying too long because of empty promises and leaving too fast without using all the information available to you. Kendall talks about the trap so many professionals fall into when timelines stay vague. Promotions are always “coming soon.” Bigger teams, more scope, more visibility are always just around the corner. Without a clear personal deadline, people stay stuck far longer than they should, waiting for a reward that never actually arrives. At the same time, she calls out the opposite mistake. Job hopping the moment a raise or promotion does not happen, without understanding context, budget cycles, or expectations, can be just as damaging. This episode walks through what to do after a disappointing raise or bonus. Kendall explains how to set a realistic timeline for yourself, how to evaluate whether new responsibilities actually change the equation, and how to decide when staying makes sense versus when it is time to move on. The goal is not blind patience or impulsive quitting. It is making a clear, grounded decision you can stand behind. In this episode, we discuss What should you do when you don’t get the raise or promotion you expected? How vague promises like “soon” and “next cycle” keep people stuck too long Why quitting immediately after a missed raise can hurt your career How to set a personal deadline and hold yourself to it What new responsibilities actually matter when deciding whether to stay What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/39996175

125. Why High Performers Can’t Slow Down Even When They’re Successful with Dr. Margie Warrell 02/02/2026

125. Why High Performers Can’t Slow Down Even When They’re Successful with Dr. Margie Warrell High performance rarely looks calm from the inside, especially for the people who are doing everything “right.” Promotions, praise, and visible wins don’t always translate into ease. For many high achievers, success comes with constant pressure, blurred boundaries, and a lingering fear of slowing down. Kendall Berg and Dr. Margie Warrell name what’s driving this pattern: the insecure overachiever mindset. When ambition is fueled by fear, busyness becomes a shield and external validation becomes the scorecard. Over time, this way of working erodes presence, weakens relationships, and quietly undermines leadership credibility, even when results look strong on paper. This conversation reframes what sustainable success actually requires. Shifting from proving yourself to growing yourself. Protecting capacity instead of equating worth with output. Treating connection as a real form of career currency in a world that rewards constant motion. For high performers who want momentum without burnout, this episode offers clarity, language, and a way forward that doesn’t require grinding harder. What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About Margie Warrell Margie has gained profound insights on managing fear, navigating risk, and embracing change since her childhood in rural Australia. Thirty years of living and working around the world—from Papua New Guinea to Singapore—have provided her with a globally grounded perspective on navigating risk and overcoming the barriers that stifle potential in individuals and organizations. Listen to the Live Brave Podcast: Get Margie's book The Courage Gap: Podcast Production by /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/39857430

124. How People Actually Achieve “Impossible” Goals with Sarah Arnold Hall 01/26/2026

124. How People Actually Achieve “Impossible” Goals with Sarah Arnold Hall Impossible goals are rarely impossible. They just require a different way of thinking, acting, and deciding when things stop feeling obvious. Kendall Berg sits down with Sarah Arnold Hall to unpack why most people abandon big dreams right at the moment progress actually begins. They break down why obstacles are not a signal to pivot, quit, or start over. Obstacles are part of the process. Sarah explains how high achievers mistake discomfort for failure and reset their goals too early. Kendall brings this into the workplace, showing how career momentum is built by staying consistent, acting like the role you want, and iterating instead of jumping strategies. This conversation reframes what persistence really looks like. From starting closer to the goal instead of over preparing, to using the mindset of “it’s working” to stay grounded during the dip, this episode offers a smarter approach to achieving goals that feel out of reach. If you have ever questioned whether to push through or walk away, this episode will help you make that decision with clarity. In this episode, we discuss Why do impossible goals feel harder right before they start working How do you stay consistent when progress feels slow or unclear What does it mean to start at the end instead of the beginning How can acting like the role you want accelerate career growth When should you persist versus pivot or quit a goal What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: About Sarah Arnold Hall I'm Sarah – I'm a High Performance Coach with a background in psychology. I help people achieve impossible goals, so this channel is filled with content about productivity, consistency and ACTION. Impossible Goals Challenge Instagram Podcast /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/39866295

123. Success Is Invisible Until You Track Your Accomplishments Like This 01/19/2026

123. Success Is Invisible Until You Track Your Accomplishments Like This Success doesn’t stall because you are bad at your job. It stalls because your work becomes invisible by the time it actually matters. Kendall Berg breaks down why high performers forget months of work by review season and how that gap quietly costs them recognition, leverage, and momentum. This episode explains how to track your accomplishments in a way that saves time later instead of creating last-minute stress. Kendall walks through aligning tasks with company goals, articulating impact instead of listing tasks, tracking stakeholder involvement, and using metrics to make your work easy to summarize, explain, and defend. If you want less scrambling, clearer reviews, and more control over your career narrative, this is the system that makes it possible. In this episode, we discuss How do I track my accomplishments at work without extra effort? Why do people forget months of work by performance review season? How can tracking work throughout the year save time later? What should I track to make my work easier to explain and defend? How does tracking accomplishments improve career visibility and growth? What’s one “corporate game” rule you’ve learned the hard way? ⭐️Get our FREE Accomplishments Tracker: 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me—let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/39766505

122. You’re Hitting Every Goal and Still Falling Behind with Radhika Dutt 01/12/2026

122. You’re Hitting Every Goal and Still Falling Behind with Radhika Dutt Hitting every goal should feel like progress. Instead, it often leaves high performers stuck, frustrated, and quietly falling behind. Kendall Berg breaks down why traditional goal setting systems like OKRs and KPIs reward performance optics while hiding the problems leaders actually need to see. In this conversation with Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, Kendall challenges the belief that better metrics lead to better decisions. They unpack why green numbers can create dangerous blind spots, how teams learn to filter bad news, and why leaders become the last to know when strategy is breaking down. The episode introduces a smarter alternative to goal chasing that helps teams surface real issues, think more strategically, and stay aligned as priorities shift. Radhika shares her puzzle setting and puzzle solving framework, a practical way to replace false certainty with curiosity, learning, and iteration. Instead of obsessing over targets, leaders learn how to frame the right questions, invite honest feedback, and guide teams through uncertainty without losing credibility or control. This episode is essential listening for professionals who want to move from execution to influence and lead with clarity in fast changing environments. In this episode, we discuss: Why do OKRs and KPIs hide problems instead of revealing them? How does hitting every goal still lead to stalled career growth? What is the puzzle setting method and how does it replace goal chasing? How can leaders admit uncertainty without losing authority? What is the first step to changing goal driven cultures without resistance? FREE toolkit for puzzle-setting and puzzle-solving: Follow Radhika Dutt on LinkedIn: 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let’s talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: Check out her courses on the website: Watch on YouTube: /episode/index/show/579ca3a4-f59e-4e2e-b368-a6d307c56a2d/id/39596230

Secrets of the Career Game

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