Secrets of the Career Game

Osad

• 144. How to Play the Corporate Game: The Strategy That Actually Gets You Promoted 22.06.2026 7min

  Hard work alone won't get you promoted; here's what actually drives career progression.  If you've been overlooked, passed over, or stuck wondering why your boss keeps choosing someone else, this video breaks down the real rules of how to get promoted at work. Kendall Berg explains why your career is a game, and pretending the corporate rules don't exist only keeps you playing small.  You'll learn:  → Why workplace visibility matters more than delivering more work  → How to communicate your impact so leadership remembers you  → The difference between having colleagues and having advocates  → How difficult conversations change your career trajectory  → What actually earns trust as a leader (beyond technical skill)  This is the career strategy shift you need before your next promotion cycle. What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  
• 143. Your Career Is Bigger Than One Bad Job with That Corporate Lawyer, Henry Nelson-Case 15.06.2026 34min

  Sometimes the job is not the problem. The problem is that we let one role become our identity, our confidence, and our entire sense of security. Henry Nelson-Case, who shares workplace and legal humor online as That Corporate Lawyer, joins me to talk about career confidence, workplace mental health, and why leaving a bad job can feel so terrifying. If you feel stuck, over-attached to your title, or afraid to advocate for yourself at work, this one is for you. Inside this episode • Why your job should not become your identity • How to know when you have stayed too long • Why being hired once means you can get hired again • How to advocate for yourself before burnout hits • Why a side hustle can create emotional freedom • How leaders can better support junior employees What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  
• 142. My Husband Spent 13 Years in Corporate Sales — Here's What He Taught Me About the Rules No One Share 08.06.2026 30min

  Most professionals think selling yourself at work means bragging. A career sales executive says that's exactly wrong. Kendall Berg sits down with her husband, David Berg, a sales executive with 13+ years at AT&T, to break down how to play the corporate game, build executive presence, and communicate your value without feeling fake.  In this episode:  • Why "selling yourself" is actually about listening, not talking  • The 9-box framework leaders use to evaluate you (and where you land)  • How to reverse-engineer a career conversation so it lands where you need it to  • Why storytelling builds more credibility than any credential  • The scariest career move David ever made — and why it paid off  This episode is for ambitious corporate professionals who want to get promoted, build leadership presence, and stop being the best-kept secret at work.  Play the Career Game On Your Terms: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/3-months-of-group-coaching  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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  
• 141. Why Quitting Your Corporate Job Might Be the Worst Way to Start a Business with Mike Shannon 01.06.2026 30min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_ About Mike Shannon Prior to Impruve, Mike co-founded and served as CEO of Packback, 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 Momentum Mode, 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.- www.impruve.com/about 
• 140. Your Schedule Is Full But You're Getting Nothing Done — 3 Time Management Tips That Actually Work 25.05.2026 11min

  I will be the first to admit I am pretty good at managing my time. But here is the part nobody wants to say out loud: you still cannot do everything. Every goal, every career move, every family priority, every business idea, and every "quick thing" on your calendar has a tradeoff. Productivity is not about cramming more into your day. It is about deciding what actually deserves your time — and having the structure and support to protect it. I believe real-time management starts with identity, not your calendar. Who are you at your core? What do you actually believe about your life, your career, and your priorities? Once you know that, you can build a week that reflects your real goals instead of letting your schedule become a dumping ground for everyone else's urgency. If you are a high achiever trying to balance work, family, career growth, and maybe one peaceful cup of coffee without multitasking through it, this one is for you. In this episode: Why real time management starts with identity, not a better calendar How to clarify your priorities before you plan a single thing Why ambitious people still cannot do everything — and what to do instead How to build an ideal weekly calendar that protects what actually matters Why your productivity has a ceiling without a support system and a village How to grow your career without burning down the rest of your life Play the Career Game On Your Terms: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/3-months-of-group-coaching
• 139. You Keep Canceling on Yourself and Calling It Productivity with Dr. Shannon Burge 18.05.2026 30min

  I know what it feels like to have a "productive" day that somehow leaves you completely disconnected from yourself. You made every meeting, answered every email, handled every priority, and then realized your own health never made it onto the calendar. That is the part of ambition we do not talk about enough. Dr. Shannon Burge joined me on Secrets of the Career Game to talk about what happens when high-achieving women keep putting health, fitness, and self-care on the back burner until their body forces the conversation. Shannon spent 15 years in Fortune 500 executive leadership, earned her PhD, became an IFBB figure pro athlete, and now helps executives and professionals reclaim their wellness through mindset, nutrition, movement, and community. This conversation is for the women who are excellent at showing up for everyone else, but keep canceling on themselves. If you are trying to grow your career, lead well, avoid burnout, and still feel like a person outside of your job, this one will hit. Inside this episode • Why high-achieving women often put health last • How to treat your wellness like a real calendar priority • Why self-care does not mean you are less committed at work • The four wellness pillars Shannon uses with busy professionals • How discipline at work can translate into better health habits • Why fulfillment matters when you are redefining success Play the Career Game On Your Terms: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/3-months-of-group-coaching Connect with Dr. Shannon Burge: Website: www.nodefeat.co Instagram: @shannon_burge Nonprofit: www.nodefeatwarrior.com    
• 138. The Real Reason Working Moms Burn Out (It's Not What You Think) 11.05.2026 20min

  I used to think balance meant everything in my life would somehow get equal attention. Career, kids, marriage, health, friendships, ambition, personal goals, all of it perfectly arranged like a very unrealistic calendar invite. The truth is, working mom balance does not work that way. Trying to give everything equal priority is usually how burnout starts. What changed for me was realizing that success requires seasons. Your career can matter deeply without being your number one priority all the time. Your family can matter deeply without requiring you to become a Pinterest mom with endless patience and a homemade snack tray. The real work is choosing your top three priorities, planning around them, and being honest about what support you need to make it actually work. This episode is for the working mom, working parent, or ambitious professional who is tired of feeling like they are failing at everything because they are trying to do all of it at once. We get into why the balance you were promised does not exist, what to do instead, and why building your village is not a luxury — it is the strategy. Inside this episode Why work life balance is not the real goal for working moms How to choose your top three priorities in this season of life Why your career cannot always be your number one focus How planning ahead prevents burnout before it starts Why working parents need systems, outsourcing, and real community Why even the CEO of PepsiCo did not bake her own cookies for the bake sale — and what that means for you Play the Career Game On Your Terms: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/3-months-of-group-coaching
• 137. Stop Succeeding. Start Unbecoming. | Lauren Kerr on Feminine Leadership 04.05.2026 27min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_   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. www.itslaurenkerr.com www.babesinbusiness.net  https://www.instagram.com/itslaurenkerr/
• 136. Most Candidates Waste the First 5 Minutes of Their Interview — Here's What to Do Instead 27.04.2026 11min

  Hiring managers decide who they want within the first five minutes of an interview. If your answer to "tell me about yourself" sounds like everyone else's, you are already behind. In this episode, I break down how to lead with your personal brand, handle small talk strategically, and explain your experience in a way hiring managers actually remember — so you stop losing offers to people with the same qualifications. In this episode: personal branding in interviews · how to answer tell me about yourself · interview communication strategy · how to talk about your accomplishments confidently What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  
• 135. You're Qualified But Still Getting Overlooked — Here's Why with Nicholette Hemingway 20.04.2026 27min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  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/
• 134. How to Plan a Job Search Before You Burn Out and Make the Wrong Move 13.04.2026 21min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  
• 133. You're Not Bad at Interviews, You're Preparing the Wrong Way with Irina Posan 06.04.2026 34min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_ 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: https://www.irinaposan.com/  Instagram: @careercoachirina    Podcast Produded by Daniela Albertina   
• 132 Stop Applying to Everything | The Job Search Strategy That Actually Gets Interviews 23.03.2026 7min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-my-networking-guide-now-p9qvc7eg  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  
• 131. Everyone Looks Rich Online: The Spending Reset You Need | Lucy from The Lucy Space 16.03.2026 26min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_ 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. https://www.youtube.com/@thelucyspace/videos  https://www.instagram.com/thelucyspace  https://beacons.ai/thelucyspace   
• 130. Invisible at Work? Your Personal Brand Is the Problem 09.03.2026 24min

  Your personal brand is going to be the single most important investment that you make this year. Not your resume, not another certification, not even your performance review. Your personal brand is essentially your professional reputation personified. It shapes what senior leaders, peers, and stakeholders say about you when you are not in the room, and those conversations directly influence your opportunities long before you ever see them. I see high performers get stuck all the time because they assume hard work speaks for itself. It doesn't, at least not entirely. Performance absolutely matters, but your reputation shapes how people interpret that performance and whether they believe you can operate at the next level. In this episode, we discuss: • What is a personal brand at work, and why does it matter for promotion • How does personal brand influence performance reviews and nine-box ratings • Why do high performers get overlooked for leadership roles • How do you identify and communicate your unique value at work • How long does it take to rebrand yourself inside a company  
• 129. Don't Make a Career Pivot Until You Answer These 5 Questions with Michelle Schaefer 02.03.2026 35min

  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. Get the Networking Guide → https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-my-networking-guide-now-p9qvc7eg What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_   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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleschafercoaching/  Website:  https://mschafercoaching.ca/  A free chapter from my book - sign up here: https://mschafercoaching.ca/cultivatingcareergrowth/  Order my book Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with Purpose here:  https://mschafercoaching.ca/cultivatingcareergrowth/  Download the reflection tool Career Focus Framework here: https://mschafercoaching.ca/gain-clarity-and-confidence-in-your-job-search/  Email me here: michelle@mschafercoaching.ca Book a complimentary 30 min discovery call with me here:  https://calendly.com/coaching-with-michelle-schafer 
• 128. How to Communicate So Senior Leaders Actually Listen 23.02.2026 8min

  You've probably left a meeting thinking, I said all the right things… so why did nothing move? I've been there. I once had an executive tell me that talking to me felt like drinking from a fire hydrant. I was giving context. I was giving data. I was giving analysis. What I wasn't giving was clarity on what I needed. In senior rooms, information is not influence. Alignment is. In this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, I talk about the simple shift that changed how I run meetings, pitch strategy, and communicate with leaders. The difference between dumping information and telling a story. The structure I use every time. And why strong communicators get trusted with bigger decisions. If your work is solid but your meetings feel stalled, this one will land. In this episode, we discuss: • Why strong data alone does not create buy-in • How to open with a problem statement that gets attention • Why presenting options builds credibility • How unclear resourcing leads to burnout • How to end meetings with real momentum What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  
• 127. Why Your Team Waits for You: The Hidden Cost of Solving Every Problem with Leah Marone 16.02.2026 30min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  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. https://www.leahmarone.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahmaronelcsw/
• 126. Before You Quit Your Job Over a Bad Raise, Listen to This First 09.02.2026 23min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_  
• 125. Why High Performers Can't Slow Down Even When They're Successful with Dr. Margie Warrell 02.02.2026 33min

  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: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-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. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Watch on YouTube:@thatcareercoach_   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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78qqa8ROz4k&list=PLqMi7idevK4-Qi5QqJO__nuaaCE1q8Ryi  Get Margie's book The Courage Gap: https://margiewarrell.com/thecouragegap/  Podcast Production by Daniela Albertina