Unleash Your Voice with Priya Sam

Priya Sam

Priya Sam is a Story Architect who helps people unlock their confidence and define their career paths through their Power Stories. In Unleash Your Voice, you'll find a combination of solo episodes and guest interviews around topics related to professional storytelling, networking, personal branding, and job interviews. 

  1. 8 hrs ago

    Why Your Voice Matters More in the Age of AI with Amruta Hunnurkar

    Have you ever been great at your job, but still struggled to get your ideas heard or get the recognition you deserve? In this episode of Unleash Your Voice, Priya Sam sits down with global product marketing leader and coach Amruta Hunnurkar to talk about why your voice — your judgment, perspective, and ability to bring people along with you — may matter more, not less, in the age of AI. As AI makes it easier for anyone to generate a deck or a strategy doc, Amruta explains why discernment and influence are becoming the real differentiators, and how to use AI without losing your own voice in the process. Amruta also shares the career lesson that shaped her thinking on influence: losing out on a promotion to someone she was more qualified than, and the feedback that followed — that no one could see how she'd influence the C-suite. She and Priya dig into what changed after that, including a story from her time at Samsung, where she used consumer research and a strong business case to challenge the executive team's preferred strategy for a major product launch, all the way up to the CEO. If you've ever felt like your work should speak for itself, but you're realizing that visibility and influence require a different set of skills, this conversation will give you a new way to think about your career. In this episode, you'll learn: → Why your voice, judgment, and perspective may become more valuable, not less, in the age of AI → How to use AI without losing your own voice → The career lesson Amruta learned after losing a promotion she expected to get → How data and a strong business case can help you influence high-stakes decisions → Why communicating your impact and managing up are essential career skills → How people-pleasing and perfectionism can affect your visibility at work → Why advocating for yourself isn't bragging → How identity, practice, and role play can help you become more influential CONNECT WITH AMRUTA HUNNURKAR 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrutahunnurkar/ 🌐 Substack: https://unignorablepmm.substack.com/  CONNECT WITH PRIYA 🌐 Website: https://priyasam.com/ 📹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PriyaSam 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasam/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priyasam 👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/priyassam/ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Meet Amruta Hunnurkar: Global Product Marketing Leader & Coach 01:00 – The Samsung Campaign That Taught Amruta to Speak Up 04:00 – How Consumer Research Helped Her Challenge Senior Leaders 05:00 – Why Influencing Without Authority Changed Her Career 06:00 – From Managing Teams to Influencing Without Authority 07:00 – The Coaching Experience That Helped Amruta Find Her Voice 08:00 – Why Product Marketers Struggle to Get Their Ideas Heard 10:00 – Losing a Promotion and the Feedback That Changed Everything 12:00 – Why Communicating Your Impact Matters as Much as Doing the Work 13:00 – How Gender Conditioning Can Affect Career Visibility 15:00 – Why Advocating for Yourself Isn't Bragging 16:00 – The Emotional Gut Punch of Realizing Your Old Approach Isn't Working 18:00 – Why Your Voice Becomes More Valuable in the Age of AI 20:00 – How to Use AI Without Losing Your Voice 22:00 – Why Your Own Experience Is Your Biggest Differentiator 23:00 – Why AI Can't Replace Human Judgment and Influence 25:00 – The Impact of "Desi Daughter" Conditioning on Career Growth 28:00 – People-Pleasing, Perfectionism, and the Pressure to Be Good 30:00 – Why Product Marketers Need to Learn to Influence Without Authority 32:00 – Why Generic Career Advice Doesn't Tell You How 33:00 – Why Identity Comes Before Influence 35:00 – What Amruta Is Most Proud of in Her Career 36:00 – The Joy of Seeing Clients Put Their Skills Into Action 37:00 – Where to Connect With Amruta Hunnurkar

  2. Jul 28

    Quitting Isn't the Easy Way Out — It's the Brave Way In, with Kelly Ramirez

    Have you ever reached a level of success that looked great on paper... but still felt like something was missing? In this episode of Unleash Your Voice, Priya Sam sits down with executive coach Kelly Ramirez to explore why so many high-achieving leaders reach a point where working harder is no longer the answer. Kelly shares the story of building a seven-figure business, walking away from it despite its success, and rebuilding her leadership from the inside out. Together, she and Priya discuss the internal beliefs that quietly shape our decisions, why intuition is one of the most overlooked leadership skills, and how understanding your own story can completely change the way you lead. Kelly also shares how developing her own Power Story helped her communicate her work with greater clarity and attract clients who were the right fit. If you've ever wondered whether your next level requires doing more or becoming someone different, this conversation offers a powerful perspective. In this episode, you'll learn: → Why success on paper doesn't always lead to fulfillment → How to know when it's time to evolve your career or business → The difference between reacting from fear and leading with intention → Why high-performing leaders often outgrow the habits that made them successful → How your internal beliefs quietly shape your leadership decisions → Why quitting isn't always failure and can sometimes be the bravest decision you make → How storytelling creates stronger leadership, influence, and executive presence → The importance of building trust in your intuition → How to communicate your value through authentic stories instead of pitches → What it means to continuously evolve as a leader 📝 Free Live Workshop – Power Story & Presence Workshop Priya is hosting a FREE three-day live workshop designed for ambitious women who want stronger visibility, confidence, and executive-level communication. Over three sessions, you’ll learn how to: ✓ Build compelling Power Stories using the CAPE Framework ✓ Identify and articulate your leadership differentiators ✓ Strengthen your executive presence and communication ✓ Position yourself more strategically for promotions and visibility 📅 Dates: July 28th-30th ⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM Eastern 🎟 Cost: 100% Free 3-day - Live Workshop CONNECT WITH KELLY RAMIREZ 🌐 Website: Elemental Leadership 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyramirezelemental/ CONNECT WITH PRIYA 🌐 Website: Home 📹 YouTube: Priya Sam 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasam/ 📸 Instagram: Priya Sam | Your Story Architect✨ (@priyasam) • Instagram profile 👤 Facebook: Priya Sam TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Meet Kelly Ramirez: Executive Coach & Founder of Elemental Leadership 01:30 – The Moment Kelly Realized She Didn't Want Her Seven-Figure Business Anymore 04:45 – Why Women Often Know Something Needs to Change Before They Can Explain It 08:25 – Connecting an Unconventional Career Into One Powerful Story 12:20 – Why Kelly Walked Away From a Successful Business 16:15 – Rebuilding Your Internal Operating System 17:25 – The Hidden Beliefs That Hold High-Performing Leaders Back 21:15 – Why Awareness Is the First Step to Lasting Change 24:10 – "Quitting Isn't the Easy Way Out. It's the Brave Way In." 25:40 – Building a Power Story That Attracts the Right Clients 29:10 – How Storytelling Changes the Way You Communicate Your Value 32:00 – The Promotion Conversation That Led to a Raise at Google 36:15 – Why Stories Are More Powerful Than Selling Yourself 37:45 – The Hidden Stories That Drive Leadership Decisions 39:15 – A Coaching Story That Changed a Founder Forever 43:15 – Why Self-Awareness Makes Better Leaders 46:20 – Creating Safe Spaces for Growth and Transformation 48:30 – From Mountain Guide to Leadership Coach 49:50 – Why Kelly Is Always Willing to Evolve 53:10 – Where to Connect With Kelly Ramirez

  3. Jul 15

    Power Isn't a Dirty Word: How to Use It to Actually Get What You Want

    Wondering how to build real executive presence, even when self-doubt creeps in at the top? In this episode, Priya Sam talks with executive advisor Emily Feairs about what power actually is, why high-achieving women still question their worth, and how to translate your experience into outcomes people remember. Emily Feairs is a former Chief of Staff turned executive advisor and leadership strategist. She works with senior women leaders across corporate, government, and policy spaces, and is the co-founder of The Power Shift, a national event series convening women shaping Canada's most consequential decisions, and Our Time to Lead, an initiative advancing women's political leadership. Through her coaching practice, Emily helps high-performing women move from over-functioning operators to strategic power players at the top of their fields. In this episode, you'll learn: → What power actually means, and why it's already something you have, not something you need to be given → Why even women at the highest levels still battle self-doubt, and what finally shifts it → How to stop describing your experience as a checklist and start speaking in outcomes and impact → Why the story you tell yourself matters just as much as the story you tell others → How executive presence is built through strategy and judgment, not just confidence ✦✦✦ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introducing Emily Feairs: Former Chief of Staff Turned Executive Advisor 00:41 – The Moment Emily Truly Unleashed Her Voice 02:20 – Why the Shift Happens Gradually, Not All at Once 03:04 – Noticing the Pattern: Women with Great Ideas Who Weren't Getting Promoted 05:40 – What Power Actually Means (and Why It's Not About Dominance) 06:44 – Reconciling Power with Being Socialized to Be "Nice" 08:56 – Reframing Fear as a Signal, Not a Warning 10:33 – Telling Yourself a Better Story About Your Own Success 12:15 – Why Leadership Feels More Exposing at the Top 14:44 – The Story You Tell Yourself vs. the Story You Tell Others 16:15 – Trying to Be Who Others Want You to Be — and What It Costs You 17:53 – Leaning Into Your Real Personality as a Leadership Differentiator 20:23 – Why "Spicy" Is More Memorable Than "Vanilla" Leadership 20:56 – The Power Shift and Our Time to Lead: Why These Initiatives Exist 22:53 – The Structural Gap: Workplaces Built for a World That No Longer Exists 25:20 – The Cultural Shift Needed for Women in Leadership 26:53 – The Role of Allyship in The Power Shift and Our Time to Lead 30:03 – Feminist Leadership as an Approach, Not a Gender 31:53 – Translating Experience into the Problem You Solve 33:37 – Speaking in Outcomes, Not Task Lists, at the Executive Level 36:22 – What Emily Is Most Proud of: Building The Power Shift in Six Months 38:24 – How to Connect with Emily Feairs and Final Takeaways ✦✦✦ CONNECT WITH EMILY FEAIRS 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyfeairs/ 🌐 The Power Shift: Power Shift ✦✦✦ CONNECT WITH PRIYA 🌐 Website: Home 📹 YouTube: Priya Sam 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasam/ 📸 Instagram: Priya Sam | Your Story Architect✨ (@priyasam) • Instagram profile 👤 Facebook: Priya Sam ✦✦✦ Subscribe for more inspiring interviews and actionable insights every week on "Unleash Your Voice."

  4. Jul 7

    The Invisible Struggle High Achievers Face (And How to Finally Be Seen)

    You have the credentials. The experience. The track record. So why do you still feel overlooked at work? In this episode of Unleash Your Voice, Priya Sam breaks down what she calls the "invisible struggle": the experience of being genuinely excellent at your job, delivering meaningful results, and still not being seen by the people making decisions about your career. Priya explains why this often isn't an experience problem. It's an articulation gap between the value you're delivering and how clearly you're communicating that value. Through stories from her own career in television and tech, plus a powerful client transformation, Priya shows how shifting from task-based language to leadership language can completely change how your impact is perceived. In this episode, you'll learn: → Why highly qualified women still get overlooked for promotions and leadership opportunities → What the invisible struggle looks like at mid and senior career levels → Why excellent work stops speaking for itself as you become more senior → The difference between describing your tasks and telling a leadership story → How the articulation gap affects your visibility and career growth → Why listing responsibilities doesn't communicate your true value → How leadership language changes the way decision-makers perceive your impact → Why your story needs to be easy for other people to remember and repeat → How one client used her Power Stories to earn an off-cycle promotion and 12% raise Priya also shares the story of launching Fitness Friday during her television career and reveals how the exact same experience can position you as either a task-focused coordinator or a strategic leader depending on how you articulate it. If you've been working hard, collecting credentials, and delivering results but still feel like you're treading water in your career, this episode will help you understand why and what you can start changing. ✦✦✦ FREE ELITE COMMUNICATION FORMULA Ready to communicate your value with more clarity and strengthen your executive presence? Get Priya's free Elite Communication Formula through this link: The ELITE Formula If you're ready for more personalized support, DM "CALL" to Priya on LinkedIn or Instagram to book a free Career Accelerator Call. In 45 minutes, you'll uncover your biggest communication gap, what's holding you back, and three areas to focus on to reach your next career milestone. ✦✦✦ CONNECT WITH PRIYA 🌐 Website: Home 📹 YouTube: Priya Sam 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasam/ 📸 Instagram: Priya Sam | Your Story Architect✨ (@priyasam) • Instagram profile 👤 Facebook: Priya Sam ✦✦✦ Subscribe for weekly conversations on executive presence, leadership communication, career growth, storytelling, self-advocacy, and workplace visibility on Unleash Your Voice.

  5. Jun 16

    Small Talk Is Your Warm-Up (And Skipping It Is Costing You)

    Do networking events, executive conversations, or interview small talk leave you wondering what to say? In this episode of Unleash Your Voice, Priya Sam challenges one of the biggest misconceptions in professional communication: that small talk is meaningless filler. In reality, small talk is often the foundation of trust, influence, and opportunity. Priya shares why so many high-achieving women struggle with networking conversations, the mindset shift that makes small talk easier, and a practical framework for turning brief interactions into meaningful professional relationships. You'll learn why the most memorable professionals aren't necessarily the most charismatic or talkative. They're the ones who know how to make other people feel seen, heard, and understood. In this episode, you'll learn: → Why small talk is one of the most underrated career advancement skills → How to use small talk as a trust accelerator → Why curiosity creates stronger connections than self-promotion → The three biggest mistakes professionals make in networking conversations → Priya's "Questions to Connect and Collect Data" framework → The three question categories that instantly improve conversations: Origin, Energy, and Advice → Why executives want to feel seen too → How one client used these skills to land a new role and a $28,000 salary increase 📝 Power Story & Presence Workshop Join Priya's free 3-day live workshop and learn how to strengthen your executive presence, communicate your value with confidence, and build leadership stories that open doors. 📅 June 16th to 18th ⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM EST ✦✦✦ TIMESTAMPS 01:00 – Why small talk is not filler 02:00 – Small talk as the warm-up before the heavy lift 03:00 – Why high-achieving women struggle with networking 04:00 – The myth that you need to impress people 05:00 – Small talk as a trust accelerator 06:00 – Building relationships through curiosity 07:00 – Mistake #1: Talking to impress 08:00 – Lead with curiosity, not content 08:30 – Mistake #2: Asking generic questions 09:00 – Origin questions 09:30 – Energy questions 10:00 – Advice questions 11:00 – Questions to connect and collect data 11:45 – Why executives want to feel seen too 12:30 – Erica's networking breakthrough 14:00 – Building a Power Story Bank 15:00 – Landing a role with a $28K salary increase 16:00 – Turning networking into relationship-building 17:00 – Lead with curiosity, not content 17:30 – Workshop invitation ✦✦✦ CONNECT WITH PRIYA 🌐 Website: Home 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasam/ 📸 Instagram: Priya Sam | Your Story Architect✨ (@priyasam) • Instagram profile 📹 YouTube: Priya Sam ✦✦✦ Subscribe for weekly conversations on executive presence, career growth, leadership communication, storytelling, networking, and workplace visibility.

  6. Jun 9

    Why Your Language is Making You Invisible (Even When You're Leading the Room)

    In this episode, Priya tackles one of the most common communication habits holding high-achieving women back: hiding behind "we" language. While collaboration is a critical leadership skill, many talented professionals unintentionally make themselves invisible by failing to clearly articulate their individual contributions. Priya breaks down what she calls the "we problem," explains how it contributes to the articulation gap, and shares practical strategies to help you communicate your leadership, ownership, and impact with greater confidence. Through real client examples, she demonstrates how small language shifts can dramatically change how you're perceived in interviews, performance reviews, and promotion conversations. In this episode, you'll learn: → What the "we problem" is and why it causes leaders to underestimate your impact → How the articulation gap keeps high performers from getting recognized and promoted → Why decision-makers listen for ownership, judgment, and accountability—not just results → A simple formula for balancing collaboration with clear individual contribution → The subtle language habits that make you sound less senior than you actually are → Why words like "just," "helped," and minimizing language weaken your credibility → How seeking validation at the end of your answers can undermine your authority → Practical ways to communicate your leadership without sounding arrogant or self-promotional → Real examples of professionals who transformed their careers by changing how they talked about their work 📝 Free Live Workshop – Power Story & Presence Workshop Priya is hosting a brand-new FREE three-session live workshop designed for ambitious women who want stronger visibility, confidence, and executive-level communication. Over three sessions, you'll learn how to: ✓ Define your personal brand pillars ✓ Identify your true differentiators ✓ Build compelling Power Stories ✓ Elevate your leadership language & presence 📅 Dates: June 16–18 ⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM Eastern 🎟 Cost: 100% Free 3-day - Live Workshop ✦✦✦ CONNECT WITH PRIYA 🌐 Website: Home 📹 YouTube: Priya Sam 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasam/ 📸 Instagram: Priya Sam | Your Story Architect✨ (@priyasam) • Instagram profile 👤 Facebook: Priya Sam ✦✦✦ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why high achievers get overlooked despite delivering strong results 01:00 – Introducing the "we problem" and the articulation gap 02:00 – Why language matters more as you become more senior 03:00 – How collaborative professionals accidentally make themselves invisible 04:00 – The hidden danger of defaulting to "we" language 05:00 – Client story: Why Shannon kept getting passed over for leadership roles 06:00 – The crucial details leaders and interviewers are listening for 07:00 – Three language habits that undermine your credibility 08:00 – The formula for balancing "we" and "I" in professional conversations 09:00 – How to talk about your individual contribution without sounding boastful 10:00 – The problem with minimizing language and the word "just" 11:00 – Why seeking validation weakens otherwise strong answers 12:00 – Powerful language swaps that increase executive presence 13:00 – Client success story: From $85K to $135K through stronger storytelling 14:00 – How leadership language changes how you see yourself 15:00 – Final takeaways and invitation to the Power Story & Presence Workshop ✦✦✦ Subscribe for more proven career storytelling strategies, communication tips, and leadership insights every week on Unleash Your Voice.

  7. May 26

    Quiet Cracking: What's Happening to High-Performing Women Before They Burn Out

    In this episode of Unleash Your Voice, Priya sits down with leadership development coach and former HR leader Kadine Cooper for a powerful conversation about burnout, authenticity, boundaries, and what happens when high-achieving women spend years proving themselves instead of aligning with who they truly are. Kadine shares her journey from corporate HR leadership into entrepreneurship, the pressure of constantly over-performing, and how “quiet cracking” often starts long before burnout becomes visible. In this episode, you’ll learn: → The hidden signs of burnout before it fully hits → Why high-performing women often struggle with boundaries → How authenticity and alignment impact leadership → Why asking for what you want changes your career trajectory → How to identify your core values and use them in decision-making → The mindset shift that helps women stop waiting for permission ✦✦✦ CONNECT WITH PRIYA 🌐 Website: Home 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasam/ 📸 Instagram: Priya Sam | Your Story Architect✨ (@priyasam) • Instagram profile 📹 YouTube: Priya Sam ✦✦✦ CONNECT WITH KADINE COOPER 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kadinecoopercoachk/ 🌐 Website: https://careercoachk.com/ ✦✦✦ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction to Kadine Cooper 02:00 – Leaving corporate and creating your own opportunities 05:00 – Immigrant expectations and redefining success 08:00 – Feeling invisible and over-functioning at work 12:00 – Burnout, toxic leadership, and protecting your energy 15:00 – What authentic leadership actually means 22:00 – Negotiation, confidence, and asking for more 30:00 – Kadine’s five core values 35:00 – “Quiet cracking” and the signs before burnout 39:00 – Boundaries, support systems, and self-trust 42:00 – What Kadine is most proud of in her journey ✦✦✦ Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, storytelling, executive presence, and career growth on Unleash Your Voice.

  8. May 12

    How I Got Strangers to Advocate for Me in Rooms I Wasn't In (The Salesforce Story)

    In this episode, Priya shares a personal story from her time at Salesforce and breaks down the exact strategy she used to advocate for herself internally and create new opportunities without feeling pushy or promotional. After being moved onto a brand-new team where senior leadership didn’t know her, Priya realized she had two choices: wait to be noticed or become intentional about how she positioned herself. What followed became one of the clearest examples of strategic storytelling in action. Priya walks through how she used her Power Story framework, relationship-building, and intentional conversations to become known for something specific — ultimately leading to speaking opportunities on behalf of Salesforce at major events and conferences. In this episode, you’ll learn: → Why waiting to be noticed is one of the biggest career mistakes high performers make → How to strategically advocate for yourself without sounding salesy or self-promotional → The storytelling framework Priya used to connect her background, strengths, and career goals → Why specificity creates more opportunities than vague career goals → How to make people remember and repeat your story in rooms you’re not in → The strategy of “asking the question you want to answer” in networking conversations → Why visibility is built through intentional conversations, not just hard work → How to position yourself for opportunities before they’re publicly offered 📝 Free Live Workshop – Power Story & Presence Workshop Priya is hosting a FREE three-day live workshop designed for ambitious women who want stronger visibility, confidence, and executive-level communication. Over three sessions, you’ll learn how to: ✓ Build compelling Power Stories using the CAPE Framework ✓ Identify and articulate your leadership differentiators ✓ Strengthen your executive presence and communication ✓ Position yourself more strategically for promotions and visibility 📅 Dates: May 19–21 ⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM Eastern 🎟 Cost: 100% Free 3-day - Live Workshop ✦✦✦ CONNECT WITH PRIYA 🌐 Website: Home 📹 YouTube: Priya Sam 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyasam/ 📸 Instagram: Priya Sam | Your Story Architect✨ (@priyasam) • Instagram profile 👤 Facebook: Priya Sam ✦✦✦ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why self-advocacy matters even after you land the role 01:00 – Priya’s career pivot from television to tech 02:00 – The goal to speak at conferences on behalf of Salesforce 03:00 – Losing visibility after moving to a new team 04:00 – The mindset shift from waiting to intentional positioning 05:00 – Why in-person visibility opportunities matter on distributed teams 06:00 – The importance of clarity before networking 07:00 – Breaking down the CAPE framework for Power Stories 08:00 – Why most people struggle to share their story naturally 09:00 – The strategy: “Ask the question you want to answer” 10:00 – How Priya used conversations to position herself strategically 11:00 – Why memorable stories travel into rooms you’re not in 12:00 – How leadership started bringing her name up for opportunities 13:00 – The proof that strategic storytelling works internally 14:00 – Why your story shapes promotions and visibility 15:00 – Three practical steps to start advocating for yourself today 16:00 – Invitation to the Power Story & Presence Workshop ✦✦✦ Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, storytelling, executive presence, and strategic career growth every week on Unleash Your Voice.

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5
out of 5
74 Ratings

About

Priya Sam is a Story Architect who helps people unlock their confidence and define their career paths through their Power Stories. In Unleash Your Voice, you'll find a combination of solo episodes and guest interviews around topics related to professional storytelling, networking, personal branding, and job interviews. 

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