The Career Evangelist

Bola Alabi

Practical, no-nonsense career advice for professionals who want to grow faster, lead with confidence, and win in today’s corporate world—without burning out. The Career Evangelist Podcast helps ambitious professionals navigate the unwritten rules of career success. Through expert interviews, real-world stories, and actionable strategies, host Bola Alabi breaks down how to negotiate better offers, build influential networks, strengthen leadership skills, and make smarter career decisions at every stage.

  1. 3h ago

    Age Is Your Advantage: How to Win Your Career After 50

    Millions of experienced professionals are being overlooked, not because they lack talent, but because the hiring system wasn't designed for today's workforce. In this episode, I sit down with psychologist, workplace researcher, and Age Against the Machine co-author Lucy Standing to discuss one of the biggest yet least talked about challenges in today's job market: ageism. Lucy shares why experienced professionals often struggle to get interviews, how outdated hiring practices hurt both individuals and businesses, and why organizations are leaving enormous value on the table by overlooking workers over 50. We also discuss practical strategies professionals can use immediately to remain competitive, build career resilience, and successfully transition into new opportunities. In this episode you'll learn: Why age discrimination is often built into hiring systemsHow AI and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can unintentionally filter out experienced talentThe connection between ageism and declining productivityThree practical steps to successfully navigate a career transitionWhy networking and community matter more than sending hundreds of applicationsWhy traditional resumes may no longer be the best way to evaluate talentHow hiring managers can identify potential instead of simply matching experience Whether you're considering a career change, searching for your next opportunity, or simply want to future-proof your career, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.

    25 min

  2. Jul 6

    "I Lost My Title, Then I Found Myself" — Geoff Curtis on Surviving Career Identity Loss

    After nearly 30 years building a powerhouse career in communications — including serving as a Chief Communications Officer — Geoff Curtis lost the professional identity that had defined much of his life when his role became redundant following an acquisition. In this candid conversation, Geoff joins host Bola Alabi to unpack what he calls "professional identity purgatory": the uncomfortable, disorienting space between who you were and who you're becoming after burnout, career disruption, or major life transition. Together they explore why high achievers often struggle most after layoffs, the hidden emotional cost of hustle culture, how success can mask insecurity, and why rushing into your next job title can actually delay real healing. Geoff is the author of Embracing Your Own Purgatory, and he's not speaking from the "I've got it all figured out" side of the story — he's speaking from inside the uncertainty itself. If you've ever felt lost when work stopped defining you, this episode is your permission slip to slow down and rebuild on your own terms. Practical, honest, and packed with strategies you can use starting today.

    27 min

  3. Jun 29

    You Got Promoted… Now What? The First 120 Days That Define Your Leadership Success

    What happens after you finally get the promotion? Many professionals spend years preparing to get the opportunity but fail to prepare for the leadership expectations that come with it. In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola sits down with Navid Nazemian, executive transition coach, bestselling author of Mastering Executive Transitions, and former multinational executive with 26 years of global leadership experience. Navid shares practical strategies on: • How to succeed in the first 120 days of a new role• How to build executive presence• Why talented professionals struggle after promotion• How leaders create trust and influence quickly• The skills professionals need to future-proof their careers Whether you are preparing for your next promotion, entering leadership, or navigating a career transition, this episode provides actionable strategies you can apply immediately. Your career growth requires more than hard work. It requires strategy.

    31 min

  4. Jun 22

    The 4-Step Leadership Framework: How Great Leaders Build Trust and Develop People

    How do you become a better leader when every person, challenge, and situation is different? In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi sits down with Sam Schriver, Executive Vice President at the Center for Leadership Studies, for a powerful conversation on the principles of situational leadership. With more than 45 years of experience studying and teaching leadership, Sam shares why effective leadership is not about using one approach with everyone — it is about understanding the situation, the person, and what they need to succeed. They discuss: Why leadership is about influence, not positionThe difference between empowerment and abandonmentHow great leaders adapt their styleWhy trust is built through consistent leadership actionsThe four-step situational leadership frameworkHow anyone can develop leadership skills through practiceWhether you are a new professional, manager, executive, parent, or someone looking to increase your influence, this episode will give you practical tools to become a more thoughtful and effective leader.

    28 min

  5. Jun 15

    From Battlefield to Boardroom: The Military Mindset That Creates Elite Leaders and High-Performing Teams

    What happens when military discipline meets modern business leadership? In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, I sit down with Chris Hallberg, a leadership expert, original Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) implementer, entrepreneur, and founder of Business Sergeant. Chris shares how lessons learned from the battlefield can transform the boardroom — from building resilient teams to creating organizations where people thrive. We discuss: • How military principles translate into business success• Why the right people in the right seats can change everything• How EOS helps companies create alignment, accountability, and execution• The biggest mistakes leaders make when building teams• Why trust, healthy conflict, and commitment are the foundation of elite teams• How professionals can apply long-term thinking to accelerate their careers Chris also explains why successful organizations are not built by simply hiring talented people — they are built by creating systems where great people can do their best work. Whether you are a career professional, entrepreneur, or leader, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you approach growth, leadership, and execution.

    28 min

  6. Jun 8

    How to Build a Portfolio Career While Leading at the Highest Level

    In this inspiring episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi sits down with leadership expert, executive coach, author, and corporate executive Jennifer Doty. After spending more than two decades leading teams inside Fortune 100 companies, Jennifer shares the mindset shifts, leadership principles, and career strategies that helped her transition from a traditional executive career to building a thriving portfolio career. During the conversation, Jennifer reveals how belief-driven leadership creates high-performing teams, why your identity should never be tied solely to your job title, and how professionals can create additional income streams while maintaining career success. You'll learn: • How to lead effectively during uncertainty and change• Why mindset determines career outcomes• The power of vulnerability in leadership• How to transition from manager to executive leader• The secrets behind building a successful portfolio career• Why multiple income streams are becoming essential• Practical techniques for staying motivated during difficult times Whether you're an aspiring executive, an experienced leader, or someone looking to create more opportunities outside your traditional career path, this episode provides valuable insights to help you grow personally and professionally. Connect with Jennifer Doty:Website: JenniferDoty.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-sierveld-doty/ Listen now and discover how changing your beliefs can transform your career and your life

    24 min

  7. Jun 1

    Why Your Silence Is Killing Your Career (And What To Do About It)

    Most professionals aren't held back by a lack of skills or ambition; they're held back by conversations they're not having. In this episode, Bola sits down with culture strategist and author Gustavo Razzetti to unpack one of the most expensive problems in the modern workplace: conversational debt. Drawing on 25 years of facilitating high-stakes conversations with Fortune 500 leaders at companies like Mars, Microsoft, and Merck, Gustavo reveals why psychological safety alone isn't enough, what false harmony is doing to your team culture, and how professionals can build the conversational agency needed to actually move their careers forward. His new book, Forward Talk (IdeaPress, May 2026), is already being called essential reading by Amy Gallo of Harvard Business Review and Daniel H. Pink. Whether you're mid-career, in leadership, or just tired of leaving meetings feeling unheard — this episode is your playbook.

    25 min

  8. May 25

    Why College Isn’t Enough Anymore — And What Young Professionals Must Learn Instead

    The future of work is changing faster than ever, and the rules for career success are evolving with it. In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi sits down with workforce futurist, bestselling author, and former advisor to the U.S. Department of Labor, Alexandra Levit, to discuss how professionals can future-proof their careers in the age of AI. Alexandra shares powerful insights on: Why perception matters more than hard work aloneHow Gen Z can stand out in distributed work environmentsThe growing importance of work-based learningWhat schools are getting wrong about career preparationThe real impact of AI on jobsHow to identify “adjacent skills” to stay employableWhether you're a student, young professional, leader, or someone navigating career uncertainty, this conversation will help you prepare for the workplace of tomorrow.

    32 min
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4.8
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

Practical, no-nonsense career advice for professionals who want to grow faster, lead with confidence, and win in today’s corporate world—without burning out. The Career Evangelist Podcast helps ambitious professionals navigate the unwritten rules of career success. Through expert interviews, real-world stories, and actionable strategies, host Bola Alabi breaks down how to negotiate better offers, build influential networks, strengthen leadership skills, and make smarter career decisions at every stage.

Information

  • Creator
    Bola Alabi
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    322
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Bola Alabi
  • Show Website
    The Career Evangelist