Future Female Leaders

The Future Female Leaders Podcast helps create more female leaders in the workplace. If you are working in an entry level role and are preparing for future growth opportunities, this podcast is for you. Future Female Leaders topics consist of building confidence, improving communication skills, becoming more self aware, learning how to proactively network, and expanding your mindset to best prepare you for that future leadership role. Let's get you promoted! Nichole Harrop is a Women's Leadership + Career Coach. She started at a call center in an entry level role and built her career from there without a college degree. Nichole was turned down for promotions many times before she was offered a leadership position and has led teams in different organizations from well established companies to new tech start ups for over 10 years.

254 | Navigating Career Uncertainty: Strategies for Your Next Move with Andrea Yacub Macek 10/23/2024

253| Getting Back Into the Workforce After a Break with Heather Nemelka 10/08/2024

253| Getting Back Into the Workforce After a Break with Heather Nemelka 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 career pivots, and leveraging networking to grow professionally. Heather's story provides valuable insights for anyone looking to re-enter the workforce or pivot careers. Key Takeaways: Informational Interviews: Heather explains how conducting informational interviews helped her gain confidence, network, and land her first role after her career break. Building Confidence: Heather highlights the importance of “borrowing confidence” from those around you and using past experiences as evidence of your abilities. Networking: Heather shares practical tips for expanding your network, including attending free local events, volunteering, and making meaningful LinkedIn connections. Affirmations and Self-Belief: Heather emphasizes the power of positive affirmations in overcoming self-doubt and rebuilding confidence. Reframing Experience: Mothers returning to the workforce can leverage the skills they've gained during their time at home to showcase value in the professional world. Resources Mentioned: Elevare: Heather’s business focused on helping women, particularly mothers, return to the workforce. Visit for more information. : Nichole’s resource to help you focus on skill development and career conversations with your leader. Connect with Heather Nemelka: Website: LinkedIn: Connect with Nichole Harrop: Website: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/nextlevelleaders/id/33372067

252| Start With Leading Yourself with Elizabeth Lotardo 08/20/2024

251| What to Do After You Get Turned down for a Leadership Role 08/13/2024

251| What to Do After You Get Turned down for a Leadership Role 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 disappointment, assess your true interest in leadership roles. Understand the difference between ladder growth (traditional career progression) and expanded growth (broadening your skills and impact without necessarily moving up). Seek Constructive Feedback: Give yourself time to process before seeking feedback. Approach feedback with curiosity and a readiness to implement changes. Support the New Leader: Whether the new leader is an external or internal hire, offer your help to make their transition smooth. Build a positive relationship by being a resource and showing your value to the new leader. Build Relationships and Continue to Grow: Use this time to deepen your relationships within the organization. Consider asking the new leader about their experiences and strategies, turning this into a learning opportunity for yourself. Maintain a Positive Attitude: Even if disappointed, focus on helping the team and the new leader succeed. This attitude not only helps the team but also positions you as a strong candidate for future leadership opportunities. Actionable Tips: Assess Your Goals: Take time to reflect on whether you genuinely want to be in a leadership role or if you’re driven by external factors like title or pay. Ask for Feedback: When you're ready, ask for specific feedback on why you weren’t selected for the role and how you can improve. Offer Support: Be proactive in supporting the new leader, whether they were hired internally or externally. Network and Learn: Use this time to build relationships and learn from the new leader’s experiences. /episode/index/show/nextlevelleaders/id/32554912

250| Celebrating Milestones 06/28/2024

249| A Different Way to Look at Career Growth 06/18/2024

248| What to Think about When Building a Personal Brand 06/06/2024

247| Helping Your Leader Be a Better Coach with Jennifer Moore 02/20/2024

246| Expectations to Succeed 02/15/2024

245| No One Is Exempt From Change 02/07/2024

244| Saying Yes to Something Before You Feel 100% Ready with Grace Wright 11/29/2023

243| How to Be a Good Leader and Avoid the Pitfalls of a Bad Boss 10/25/2023

242| The 5 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Getting Promoted Into My First Leadership Position 10/20/2023

242| The 5 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Getting Promoted Into My First Leadership Position Join the and check out the . 1: Deciding on Your Career Path Nichole reflects on her own experience working for a well-established company and the importance of considering long-term growth. Discusses her transition to a startup, which proved to be a better fit for her career goals. Advises listeners to think carefully about the company they work for, even in entry-level positions. 2: Learning About Leadership Roles Nichole shares her experience about not fully understanding what her team leader's role involved before her promotion. Emphasizes the importance of asking questions and gaining a clear understanding of the responsibilities of the next level of leadership. Mentions the significance of offering to take on tasks to support the team leader, demonstrating initiative and creating a mutually beneficial relationship. 3: Networking for Success Nichole discusses her early experiences with networking and the realization that she needed a more intentional approach. Encourages listeners to seek guidance from mentors and ask questions about the career path and skills they should be focusing on. Stresses the value of building meaningful relationships with the right people who can guide them towards their goals. 4: Tracking Achievements Nichole talks about the benefits of maintaining a work journal to track progress and achievements. Encourages the use of electronic tools, calendars, or handwritten notes to document accomplishments consistently. Shares how she believes that documenting achievements would have boosted her confidence and preparation for interviews. 5: The Role of Mentors Nichole expresses her wish for a more structured mentoring relationship when she was starting her leadership journey. Discusses the importance of having an external mentor who can provide neutral guidance and support. Highlights the challenge of building trust in internal relationships and the benefits of a mentor outside of the workplace. /episode/index/show/nextlevelleaders/id/28379066

241| The Most Important Thing About Consistency 10/11/2023

241| The Most Important Thing About Consistency It's not about how long you've been doing something, but when you maintain that commitment, especially when life throws you off course. Episode Highlights Consistency in All Aspects of Life: Consistency is a fundamental element in your work life, home life, hobbies, passions, and relationships. It's a universal principle that applies to all areas of your life. The Challenge of Consistency: There are moments when maintaining consistency becomes challenging. It can feel mundane, and you might not immediately see the benefits. This is particularly true in today's instant-gratification world. However, remember that consistency pays off over time, much like going to the gym or eating healthier. Thinking About Your Future Self: Consider your future self and what you want to achieve. Instead of focusing solely on your career or job titles, think about how you want to interact with others, build your personal brand, and show up in various aspects of your life. Overcoming Confidence Issues: Transitioning into a new role can be tough, especially if you're lacking confidence. Consistency may feel harder when it's not a built-in routine or habit. It's crucial to keep putting in the effort, even when you're unsure of the outcomes. Nichole's Experience: Nichole shares her personal experience of taking a break from posting episodes on her podcast for a month. Life got hectic, but she realized the importance of consistency in helping others through her content. She got back on track, determined to maintain the consistency she once had. Setting Your Priorities: Reflect on what areas of your life you want to be more consistent in. It's easy to push things off until "later," but that can turn into weeks, months, or even years of procrastination. Think about where you want to be a year from now, not just in terms of your career but in your daily routine and consistent effort. Embracing Imperfection: Remember that we're all a work in progress, and it's okay not to be on top of everything all the time. Give yourself grace, especially during the holiday season. Saying Yes and Setting Boundaries: Think about what you want to commit to and where you need to establish boundaries. Consistency is about finding the right balance and making it work for you personally. Conclusion Consistency is a powerful tool that can shape your future. It's not about how long you've been doing something but when you maintain that commitment, even when it's challenging. Think about your future self and what you want to achieve, and don't be too hard on yourself. Remember, it's a journey, and we're all a work in progress. /episode/index/show/nextlevelleaders/id/28295495

240 | The Steps It Takes to Stand Out to Grow Into a Leadership Role with Cecily Jorgensen 09/28/2023

240 | The Steps It Takes to Stand Out to Grow Into a Leadership Role with Cecily Jorgensen Book your 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. /episode/index/show/nextlevelleaders/id/28165781

239| How Your Menstrual Cycle Affects Your Productivity with Elizabeth Tidwell 08/28/2023

239| How Your Menstrual Cycle Affects Your Productivity with Elizabeth Tidwell Join Nichole's free community Check out Elizabeth Tidwell's website 1. The Power of Cycle-Aware Scheduling: Nichole talks about her approach to scheduling tasks based on her menstrual cycle, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and proactive planning. The conversation touches on the shift from a reactive to a proactive mindset, giving control back to women. 2. Understanding Your Menstrual Seasons: Elizabeth introduces the concept of the Inner Seasons framework, a recent development that correlates menstrual phases with the four natural seasons. The Winter Phase: Menstruation - A time of hibernation and low energy, perfect for rest and introspection. The Spring Phase: Rising Estrogen - A period of optimism and new beginnings, ideal for initiating projects. The Summer Phase: Ovulation - High energy, increased sociality, and peak attractiveness, often referred to as the "Beyonce hormone." The Autumn Phase: Luteal Phase - A time for coziness, introspection, and preparation, offering a keen eye for detail. 3. Embracing Cycle-Aware Empowerment: Nichole reflects on the empowering nature of cycle awareness, highlighting her personal experiences at events. She discusses communicating her energy levels to others, including male colleagues, without explicitly mentioning her menstrual cycle. The duo explores how this awareness can influence decision-making, particularly avoiding significant life choices during the fall phase. 4. Breaking the Consistency Myth: The conversation revolves around how societal expectations, especially in the workplace, have led women to believe they should perform consistently like the sun or a male hormonal pattern, despite natural cyclical changes. Elizabeth highlights the importance of awareness in building self-compassion and understanding that it's not an individual problem but a shared experience. 5. Navigating Your Inner Autumn: Elizabeth sheds light on the often overlooked and misunderstood inner autumn phase of the menstrual cycle, characterized by heightened critical thinking. She explains that while the inner autumn is excellent at identifying problems, it struggles to find solutions. This phase often leads to extreme and impractical solutions. The discussion encourages embracing the inner autumn's role as a superpower for evaluation, providing valuable insights even if the delivery might be less polished. 6. Utilizing Cycle-Aware Productivity: Nichole and Elizabeth discuss practical ways to work with your menstrual cycle, such as shifting tasks to align with your energy levels. Elizabeth highlights the efficiency gained when tasks match your cycle phases, even if full scheduling around the cycle isn't always possible. They emphasize the importance of recognizing the bare minimum expectations at work and having open conversations with leaders about energy fluctuations. 7. Overcoming Challenges: Both share personal experiences of navigating the challenges of work expectations during different cycle phases, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and communication. The conversation stresses the value of understanding your unique cycle patterns and learning to adapt to them effectively. In conclusion, this episode advocates for menstrual cycle awareness as a tool for self-compassion, improved productivity, and effective communication in personal and professional settings. By embracing the natural ebb and flow of their cycles, women can achieve a healthier work-life balance and contribute to more inclusive and empathetic workplaces. /episode/index/show/nextlevelleaders/id/27873282

238| How to Be More Productive at Work Without Overwhelm with Caitlin Montgomery 08/16/2023

237| Why It’s Important to Set Boundaries at Work with Sherralynn Arnold 08/07/2023

236| Changing the Way You Think 07/21/2023

235| Recognizing the Yellow Flags in Your Job 07/20/2023

234| Plan To Succeed 06/29/2023

234| Plan To Succeed Connect with Check out the different career journals, helping you to grow and advance in your career: Episode Overview: Today's episode focuses on planning for success and celebrating milestones. Nichole shares personal updates and experiences. She encourages listeners to shift their mindset and plan for success in various areas of their lives. Planning for Success Nichole emphasizes the importance of thinking about what could go right, rather than solely focusing on backup plans. Encourages listeners to envision their future roles, positions, and phases of life in a successful scenario. Celebrating Milestones Nichole recounts her experience of surpassing 100,000 podcast downloads. Talks about attending a retreat coinciding with the milestone and the joy of building new relationships. Highlights the fun activities at the retreat: e-bike riding through Zion's National Park, repelling, and a transformative sound bath. Updates and Challenges Nichole shares her absence in June due to illness and vocal strain. Assures listeners of her return with great content while taking care of her health. Encourages listeners to plan for success in their own endeavors, setting goals and rewards for themselves. Career Journals and Entrepreneurship Nichole discusses the challenges and successes of updating her career journals available on Amazon. Introduces a more gender-neutral version of the journal. Encourages listeners to check out the career journals in the show notes to support their career growth. Embracing Change and Overcoming Insecurities Nichole talks about the discomfort and insecurities that come with pursuing entrepreneurship. Shares her journey of transitioning from a comfortable role to making a bigger impact. Encourages listeners to embrace change, face discomfort, and open doors to greater opportunities. Closing Remarks: Nichole acknowledges the unstructured nature of the episode and thanks listeners for their support. Invites listeners to share the podcast with friends and check out the career journals. Encourages connection and offers support via LinkedIn. /episode/index/show/nextlevelleaders/id/27327645

233| Are You Feeling Overwhelmed at Work? 05/30/2023

233| Are You Feeling Overwhelmed at Work? Check out the Buy a copy of Introduction: In this episode of the Future Female Leaders Podcast, host Nichole Harrop discusses the common experience of feeling overwhelmed at work after a holiday weekend. She reassures listeners that this is a normal occurrence and provides practical tips for managing overwhelm and prioritizing tasks effectively. Nichole introduces a simple exercise called the "Red Light Green Light" technique, which helps categorize and visualize work-related tasks based on enjoyment and energy levels. Episode Highlights: The State of Overwhelm: Nichole acknowledges the feeling of overwhelm that often arises when returning to work after a long holiday weekend. She emphasizes that it is a shared experience among many individuals and addresses the inaction that can accompany overwhelm. The Red Light Green Light Exercise: Nichole introduces the Red Light Green Light exercise as a tool to navigate overwhelming tasks. She instructs listeners to envision three columns: Green Light (tasks they enjoy), Red Light (draining tasks), and Yellow Light (challenging tasks). Green Light Column: Listeners are encouraged to identify tasks they genuinely love doing and consider how they can incorporate more of these activities into their work. Nichole advises communicating these preferences to direct leaders to foster a more fulfilling work experience. Red Light Column: The focus shifts to tasks that drain energy and create feelings of dread or procrastination. Nichole prompts listeners to evaluate whether they have communicated their aversion to these tasks with their leaders, emphasizing the importance of sharing honest feedback while still committing to completing them effectively. Yellow Light Column: Nichole introduces the concept of yellow light tasks—tasks that don't bring immediate joy but involve curiosity, challenges, and the need for clarification. She highlights the significance of seeking clarity and direction from leaders to ensure successful execution. Effective Communication: Nichole emphasizes the importance of open dialogue and effective communication with leaders. She encourages listeners to discuss task preferences, seek clarity, and align expectations to enhance job satisfaction and reduce overwhelm. Delegation and Support: Nichole suggests considering delegation as a solution for tasks that others might enjoy more, allowing individuals to focus on their strengths and find more fulfillment in their work. She emphasizes the need to communicate the desire for support and collaboration rather than avoiding tasks altogether. Journaling Resource: Nichole recommends her career journal available on Amazon, designed to help individuals advance their careers. The journal contains over a hundred unique prompts for ongoing self-reflection and personal growth. Conclusion: Nichole wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to try the Red Light Green Light exercise and engage in open conversations with their leaders about task preferences and challenges. By prioritizing tasks and aligning expectations, individuals can reduce overwhelm, improve job satisfaction, and create a more fulfilling work experience. Outro: Don't forget to check out Nichole's career journal available on Amazon—a valuable resource for tracking career progress and personal growth. Stay tuned for the next episode of the Future Female Leaders Podcast. Until then, keep thriving in your career journey. See you next time! /episode/index/show/nextlevelleaders/id/26993817

232| How to Start Setting Some Boundaries at Work 05/09/2023

231| Are You Setting Boundaries at Work? 05/08/2023

230| Meditation: Overcoming Negative Perceptions at Work 05/08/2023

229| How to Work Through Negative Perceptions at Work 05/05/2023

229| How to Work Through Negative Perceptions at Work Book your complimentary . Learn more about the . The Future Female Leaders Podcast is a show dedicated to creating more female leaders in the workplace, hosted by Nichole Harrop. In this episode, Nichole talks about how to work through negative perceptions at work. She offers a complimentary leadership assessment call to help women understand where they are currently in the workplace and where they want to go. Nichole describes how perceptions can lead to bigger issues and create negative self-doubt thoughts. She shares a personal experience of applying for team leader roles and being turned down multiple times. She explains that this was a sign that there might be a perception issue at work. She realized that there were office politics at play, and some leaders only hired people who they were friends with or who they saw as part of their inner circle. Nichole emphasizes that it's essential to work on self-awareness and to be aware of the perceptions others have of you. She suggests taking on additional responsibilities, showing up as your best self, and having open and honest conversations with your manager. Nichole shares how working through negative perceptions at work takes time and effort but is worth it to achieve your career goals. By doing pulse checks with other team members, you can gain insight into how to approach difficult situations with tact and strategy. Rather than placing blame, it's important to get curious and understand how to best move forward. Perception issues can lead to disengagement and poor performance, but by asking for guidance and clarity, you can overcome those struggles. Nichole shares personal experiences of having to set boundaries to avoid being seen as a social butterfly and not being taken seriously. The Future Leaders program is highlighted as a resource for live one-on-one training and real-time feedback to help individuals grow and work towards their first leadership position. /episode/index/show/nextlevelleaders/id/26751186

228| Are Perception Issues Holding You Back From a Promotion? 05/02/2023

227| Meditation: Being Seen as a Change Leader at Work 04/28/2023

226| How You Can Start Being Seen as a Change Leader at Work with Lata Hamilton 04/28/2023

225| How Do You Feel About Change? 04/25/2023

Future Female Leaders

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