Hello Moxie

Nicole Donnelly

What would a business world where everyone can thrive actually take? I'm Nicole Donnelly, and that's the question behind Hello Moxie with Nicole Donnelly. I walked away from a thriving business at its peak because I finally learned to trust my own voice.  And when I did I entered the most creative and purpose-driven period of my life. That moment taught me something I see everywhere now: most capable people already have the skills to lead. What stalls them is trust - self-trust and relational trust. So this leadership development podcast takes the challenges shaping today's workplaces and asks a different question: what changes when we address trust first? In Hello Moxie Trust Lab, organizational psychologist Dr. Carylynn Larson and I sit down with experts on employee engagement, retention, resilience, strategic thinking, and AI and leadership, and look at real data on what trust does across an organization. In Hello Moxie Trust Notes, I go solo, with personal stories and practical tools for building trust on the brink of something new. If you're a high-performer who's successful on paper but second-guessing yourself before a promotion, a new role or a career pivot, this is for you. If you're in L&D or talent, responsible for professional development and building a stronger leadership pipeline, this is for you too.  Because untapped potential plagues our organizations.  Women hold 29% of C-suite roles, and that number hasn't moved.  This isn’t a skills problem or an ambition problem. It's a support problem, and support is how trust gets built. Self-trust, not just confidence, and the discernment to make the call when the answer isn't obvious yet are what let people use the leadership skills they already have. The show is produced by Hello Moxie, the leadership development company behind the Moxie Method. You'll leave every episode with a new way to think about leadership and something you can actually use.  New episodes, events and our free leadership pipeline diagnostic at hellomoxie.us/trust.

  1. 4d ago

    Give Me 16 Minutes and I'll Show You Why More Training Won't Fix Self-Doubt

    If you’re a high-performing leader second-guessing decisions you’re qualified to make, or an L&D/talent buyer watching talented people hold back, this one’s for you. The inner critic gets loudest during career change, and more skills training won’t quiet it. Here’s how to overcome self-doubt, starting with what most leadership development misses. In the Season 3 opener of Hello Moxie, Nicole Donnelly shares how she went from growing her business 4x to burning out, and what it revealed about why capable people hold back. She closes with three questions to help you stop doubting yourself, plus a matching set for the managers and L&D leaders developing rising talent. What you’ll get from this episode: Why change is exactly when your inner critic speaks up most, and what to do in that momentWhat burnout taught Nicole, and the simple question that helped her find her way backWhy more skills training isn’t closing the gap for capable people, even as investment in leadership development keeps growingThe barriers that stall rising leaders, starting with the “broken rung” at the first step into managementThree questions to pinpoint what’s holding you back, plus three for the people you leadWhy everyone needs someone who sees their potential before they do, and how you might become that person for someone else Follow Hello Moxie for new episodes every Wednesday, from solo Trust Notes with Nicole to conversations on organizational health with Dr. Carylynn Kemp Larson, where we explore how to step into what you’re capable of, and how to help the people you lead do the same.  Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello MoxieConnect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us  Say hello Moxie. 💜

  2. Oct 7

    Natasha Golinsky, Pink!, & The Management Skills That Built a Team Almost No One Left

    Host: Nicole Donnelly Guest: Natasha Golinsky – Founder of On Purpose Projects, Founder of Never Launch on a Friday, Host of the Never Launch on a Friday podcast…and the Agency Owner Who's Never Written a Line of Code In this honest episode of Hello Moxie, Nicole sits down with Natasha Golinsky, the "quintessential accidental agency owner", to explore what it takes to lead when you're not the skills expert in the room, and why waiting to feel ready keeps so many capable people stuck. Natasha's story is unexpected, She has run a full-stack web development agency since 2015 without ever building a website herself, growing it from a single freelance hire into a contractor team where, in a decade, only one person has left. She opens up about earning loyalty instead of demanding it, handing over the business she built during breast cancer treatment, and what it really means to step into fear and do it scared. This conversation is candid, funny, practical, and ultimately hopeful. Together, Nicole and Natasha explore: - The management style behind a contractor team where only one person has left in 10 years: earning loyalty instead of expecting it, backing people when mistakes happen, and never micromanaging - How to improve management skills by hiring for your weaknesses instead of fixing them, from testing candidates for reliability in the small things to the hire she'd put off for a decade, made five weeks before cancer surgery, who now runs her agency - How to handle management challenges like her agency's worst quarter in 11 years, when her bookkeeper thought the accounting software was broken, and why shortening your recovery time matters more than avoiding the setback Natasha is a powerful example of what it looks like to live the Moxie Method in full bloom: from Sprout to Shine. Key Takeaways: - Waiting to feel ready? There is no ready. Every step is scary, and confidence comes from moving, not before it. - Afraid of taking a visible risk and failing? Natasha built a team culture where it's safe to stretch, safe to say "I don't know," and safe to turn down work you can't do well. - Telling yourself you're not cut out for this? Everyone who looks successful is thinking the same thing. The real skill is shortening your recovery time after a setback. - Second-guessing whether you need to be the expert to lead? Hire for your weaknesses, trust people with the outcome, and let the people doing the work set the scope. Connect with Natasha Golinsky - Website: https://neverlaunchonafriday.pro/ - Agency: https://onpurposeprojects.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashagolinsky/ Natasha is currently promoting The Root Cause Reset — an eight-week private, one-on-one program for high-achieving women who want to find and heal the root causes keeping them stuck. Join the Community Become a member to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode: https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/ Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello MoxieConnect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us  Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello MoxieConnect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us  Say hello Moxie. 💜

  3. Sep 15

    Sarah Thelen, Bertha Benz, & Overcoming Self-Doubt to Build a Career Outside the Traditional Path

    Host: Nicole Donnelly Guest: Sarah Thelen – AI Founder, Entrepreneurship, Former Banking Professional, Nontechnical AI Founder In this honest episode of Hello Moxie, Nicole sits down with Sarah Thelen, a nontechnical AI founder, to explore career reinvention, self-trust, and how to overcome self-doubt when you're taking a risk before you have everything figured out. Sarah's story is unexpected. After starting her career in banking and finance, she moved into AI without a technical background and eventually began building Alfons AI, a Europe-based Human-in-the-Loop AI training and evaluation company helping organizations build safer, more reliable, and production-ready AI systems. She opens up about leaving the traditional career path, entering an unfamiliar industry, learning to lead without having all the answers, and what it really means to step into fear. This conversation is candid, practical, and encouraging, and ultimately hopeful. 🔥 Together, Nicole and Sarah explore: Sarah's transition from banking and finance into the AI industryBuilding Alfons AI as a nontechnical founder alongside a technical co-founderLearning to take risks and make decisions before everything is perfectly figured outLeading and managing hundreds of people while developing confidence in her own leadershipSarah is a powerful example of what it looks like to live the Moxie Method in full bloom: from Seed to Sprout. 🌟 Key Takeaways: How to overcome self-doubt when you're entering an industry where you don't have the traditional credentials or technical expertiseHow building self-trust can help you make career decisions before you feel completely readyHow experimentation and learning through failure can strengthen your confidence when navigating uncertaintyWhy taking a career risk can mean creating your own path instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity to appearConnect with Sarah Thelen: Website: https://alfons.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-thelen-232a69165/Mentioned in the Episode: Alfons AI: https://alfons.ai/The Moxie Method: https://hellomoxie.us/If this episode moved you, please share it with a friend—and leave a review to help more women reclaim their voice and shine. Join the Community Become a member to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode: https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/ Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello MoxieConnect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us  Say hello Moxie. 💜

  4. Sep 2

    Melissa Sierra, Her Mom, and the Questions That Get You a Seat at the Table

    What if the thing keeping you from moving forward isn’t a lack of answers, but spending too much time trying to find the right answer? In this episode of Hello Moxie, Nicole sits down with Melissa, founder of Focal Point Consulting and a certified business and executive coach, to talk about making decisions, building confidence, and turning big, complex challenges into actionable next steps. Rooted in her framework of Clarity, Curiosity, and Conviction, Melissa helps people move out of the cycle of rumination and into meaningful action. She shares how asking better questions, understanding your own voice, and taking small steps can help you navigate uncertainty and create momentum. Melissa also challenges us to think differently about personal growth: “If you are 1% better today, what would that unlock for you tomorrow?” In this episode, you'll learn: How to move from overthinking a decision to taking decisive actionWhy clarity, curiosity, and conviction are essential for navigating changeHow to break down big, complex problems into manageable next stepsWhy finding and using your authentic voice matters in leadershipHow self-advocacy can help you create new opportunitiesThe power of asking one question deeperWhy networking and relationships can accelerate your careerHow small, consistent changes can create meaningful momentumWhat it means to embrace your own version of “moxie”About Melissa Melissa is the founder of Focal Point Consulting and a certified business and executive coach. Her coaching approach is rooted in Clarity, Curiosity, and Conviction, helping clients navigate complex decisions, build confidence, and take action toward meaningful change. She encourages people to focus on progress over perfection by asking: “If you are 1% better today, what would that unlock for you tomorrow?” Connect with Melissa Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-sierra/ Website: https://melissasierra.focalpointcoaching.com/ Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello MoxieConnect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us  Say hello Moxie. 💜

  5. Aug 18

    Deborah Traficante and the Wild Wild West of Climbing the Corporate Ladder in the 90's

    Host: Nicole Donnelly Guest: Deborah Traficante – Former VP of US Sales at Cisco Systems, Sales…and one of the first women to help build the internet from the inside In this honest, no-BS episode of Hello Moxie, Nicole sits down with Deborah Traficante, a Cisco sales pioneer, mentor, and straight-talking leadership veteran, to explore what it actually takes to lead — and be believed — in rooms that weren't built for you. Deborah's story is hard-won — she joined Cisco in 1990 as one of the first two women hired into a 40-person global sales team, back when most people had never heard of the internet, let alone bet their career on it. She opens up about being underestimated at every rank, the double standards she navigated for decades, and what it really means to step into fear and speak up when the room is 95% men. This conversation is direct, funny, and ultimately empowering. 🔥Together, Nicole and Deborah explore: How Deborah broke into Cisco's internet sales division and spent a year earning credibility with buyers who saw her as "an empty suit"The moment a VP told the sales team to wear khakis and bring their wives — and how Deborah responded on the spotWhy an HR mentor telling her "white males are going to hire white males, so it's your job" became her missionThe leadership lesson that changed how she led as she rose the ranks: less control, more influenceDeborah is a powerful example of what it looks like to live the Moxie Method in full bloom: from Step Into Fear to Shine. 🌟Key Takeaways: Confidence isn't a mindset trick — it's built through competence and preparation, especially when you're the one who has to prove it twiceBeing underestimated doesn't require a comeback line to survive it — sometimes success is the only response you needIf you're one of the only women in the room, mentoring the next one isn't optional — it's the legacy that outlasts the titleReal leadership means trading control for influence, and learning to let go of the reins as you riseConnect with Deborah Traficante: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-traficante-3377762a/ Mentioned in the Episode: The Moxie Method: https://hellomoxie.us/embracing-change-for-personal-growth/ --  Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello MoxieConnect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us  Say hello Moxie. 💜

  6. Aug 4

    Trish Barber, Her Former Colleague, and How to Pivot, Upskill & Build a Meaningful Career

    In this episode, we sit down with Trish Barber—founder of Three Ways Digital, author of Why Women Pivot, and President-Elect of Women in Technology—to discuss career change, professional growth, networking, leadership, and how to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. With more than 30 years of experience spanning technology, media, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Trish shares the lessons she's learned from building businesses, navigating career pivots, and helping professionals create opportunities through relationships, adaptability, and lifelong learning. Whether you're considering a career change, recovering from a setback, exploring new opportunities, or looking for practical career advice, this conversation offers valuable insights on how to make confident career decisions and build a future-ready career. In this episode, we discuss: • Career change advice and navigating major career transitions • Why career pivots are becoming increasingly common • Transferable skills and professional reinvention • Networking fundamentals and relationship-building strategies • Leadership development and career growth • Women in technology and creating opportunities for advancement • Upskilling, adaptability, and the future of work • Mentorship, sponsorship, and building a strong professional network About Trish Barber: Trish Barber is the founder of Three Ways Digital, author of Why Women Pivot, and President-Elect of Women in Technology. She is a seasoned business leader with more than three decades of experience helping organizations grow through innovation, digital transformation, marketing strategy, and leadership development. If you're navigating a career change, exploring a new direction, or looking for practical networking tips and leadership insights, this episode is for you. #CareerChange #CareerAdvice #CareerPivot #NetworkingTips #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenInTech #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #Networking #FutureOfWork Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello MoxieConnect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us  Say hello Moxie. 💜

  7. Jul 21

    Karen Ann Bulluck, Her Mentor Laurie, & Trusting Your Own Resilience

    Host: Nicole Donnelly Guest: Karen Ann Bulluck, Author of the Ascending Ladders Series, Executive Leader, Speaker What do 30 years in the boardroom, a fear of heights, and downhill skiing terrified out of your mind have in common? They're all part of Karen Ann Bulluck's story of learning to trust herself. In this episode of Hello Moxie, Karen Ann shares how three decades of climbing the corporate ladder — and the moments she almost lost herself doing it — became the foundation for a trilogy of novels, and a mission to help women lead with more humanity and less performance. From programming teams she couldn't actually code for, to becoming an Executive Vice President and Board Member, Karen Ann takes us through the inner conflicts that come with power: the isolation of leading, the gap between personal values and corporate demands, and the fear that shows up every time you're asked to do something new. This episode is packed with wisdom on somatic awareness, self-trust, and why the best leadership advice she ever got sounds nothing like a leadership book. You'll laugh, you'll get a little emotional, and you'll probably start paying attention to what your hands are doing the next time you're in a hard conversation. 🌟 What You'll Learn Karen Ann's "moxie moment" — leaving a 30-year corporate career to write business fiction that tells the truthThe difference between real fear and fear of something new — and how to tell them apartWhy somatic awareness (yes, even doing the dishes) is a leadership skill, not a wellness trendHow mutual mentorship works, and why your mentor doesn't need to outrank youWhat to do when your gut and your organization's expectations don't agreeWhy she believes leadership isn't about leadership skills — it's about being a better human being✨ Karen Ann's Moxie Highlights Spent 30 years in corporate IT leadership before leaving to write full timeTurned her own struggle with self-trust into a trilogy of novels that give women permission to feel the messReframes fear as a normal, universal signal — not a personal failingEmphasizes grounding and stillness as tools any woman can use in two minutes, not two hours📚 About Karen Ann Bulluck  Karen Ann is the bestselling author of the Ascending Ladders Series — Discovering Power, Pursuing Truth, and Embracing Trust — and a former Executive Vice President and Board Member at AM Best. After three decades in corporate leadership, she left to write business fiction exploring integrity, trust, and humanity in the workplace. She's a Certified Professional Coach, a Positive Intelligence Mastery graduate, and now mentors women through the Hello Moxie program. 🔗 Connect with Karen Ann Bulluck 🌐 Website: https://daringtotranscend.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenannbulluck/📚 Get her latest book- Embracing Trust: https://daringtotranscend.com/embracing-trust/ 🧠 Favorite Quote  "Leadership isn't necessarily about leadership skills. Leadership is about being a better human being." Share your thoughts and questions Join the Community Become a member and stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode: https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/ Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello MoxieConnect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us  Say hello Moxie. 💜

  8. Jul 8

    Marta Fernandez, Checking Your Privilege, and Joan of Arc

    Host: Nicole Donnelly Guest: Marta Fernandez, HR Generalist and Podcast Host of "HR, Are You Listening?" What does a $4 ice cream cone have to do with privilege? For Marta Fernandez, everything. In this raw, unscripted episode of Hello Moxie, Marta shares the moment she realized she couldn't enjoy that ice cream cone without reckoning with the fact that her neighbor didn't have clean water — and how that single, uncomfortable thought became a lifelong practice she now calls checking your privilege. Marta grew up moving between two worlds in Nicaragua — raised with privilege, but constantly crossing into a very different reality through her mother's private school, which welcomed students regardless of what their families could pay. That upbringing forced her to confront questions most of us spend our whole lives avoiding: How do you hold onto joy when someone else is struggling right in front of you? How do you stop being "the spending machine" for friends who assume you'll always cover the gap? And how do you build humility when people define you by your family's name instead of your own? This isn't a conversation about frameworks or five-step plans. It's a real, unfiltered exploration of guilt, gratitude, boundaries, and the quiet values — empathy, humility, critical thinking — that shape who we become long before we ever set foot in a workplace. 🌟 What You'll Learn The "ice cream cone" moment that changed how Marta sees privilegeHow to set a boundary with people who expect you to always give moreWhy gratitude and guilt can coexist — and how to hold both without shrinkingWhy ignorance has nothing to do with how educated you areHow to redefine ambition on your own terms, whether that's building a business or staying home✨ Marta's Moxie Highlights Learned to say no to being "the spending machine" for her friend group — and to define herself by who she is, not her family's nameHolds both privilege and proximity to hardship, and refuses to look away from eitherChampions humility and service as daily practices, not abstract idealsBelieves ambition has no single definition — and that choosing family can be just as courageous as building an empire💬 Favorite Quote  "Ignorance doesn't stop because you're well educated." 📚 About Marta Fernandez  Marta is a bilingual HR Generalist with a Master's in Human Resources Management from Georgetown University, and the host of the podcast "HR, Are You Listening?", where she explores workplace lessons through storytelling. 📧 Connect with Marta LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-fernandez-/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrareyoulistening/ HR, Are You Listening?: https://open.spotify.com/show/015g8jepbpq7yNaXnwbubd Share your thoughts and questions Join the Community Become a member and to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Hello Moxie, plus get access to exclusive bonus content from our guests with every episode https://hellomoxie.us/member-registration/ Share your thoughts and questions If this episode moved you, we'd love for you to pass it along to a friend who needs to hear it — and if you've got 30 seconds, leaving a review helps way more women find their way to these conversations. It genuinely matters more than you'd think. Learn More About Hello Moxie Website: Women Empowerment & Inspiring Stories | Hello MoxieConnect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-donnelly-dmg/ Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hello-moxie-us  Say hello Moxie. 💜

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About

What would a business world where everyone can thrive actually take? I'm Nicole Donnelly, and that's the question behind Hello Moxie with Nicole Donnelly. I walked away from a thriving business at its peak because I finally learned to trust my own voice.  And when I did I entered the most creative and purpose-driven period of my life. That moment taught me something I see everywhere now: most capable people already have the skills to lead. What stalls them is trust - self-trust and relational trust. So this leadership development podcast takes the challenges shaping today's workplaces and asks a different question: what changes when we address trust first? In Hello Moxie Trust Lab, organizational psychologist Dr. Carylynn Larson and I sit down with experts on employee engagement, retention, resilience, strategic thinking, and AI and leadership, and look at real data on what trust does across an organization. In Hello Moxie Trust Notes, I go solo, with personal stories and practical tools for building trust on the brink of something new. If you're a high-performer who's successful on paper but second-guessing yourself before a promotion, a new role or a career pivot, this is for you. If you're in L&D or talent, responsible for professional development and building a stronger leadership pipeline, this is for you too.  Because untapped potential plagues our organizations.  Women hold 29% of C-suite roles, and that number hasn't moved.  This isn’t a skills problem or an ambition problem. It's a support problem, and support is how trust gets built. Self-trust, not just confidence, and the discernment to make the call when the answer isn't obvious yet are what let people use the leadership skills they already have. The show is produced by Hello Moxie, the leadership development company behind the Moxie Method. You'll leave every episode with a new way to think about leadership and something you can actually use.  New episodes, events and our free leadership pipeline diagnostic at hellomoxie.us/trust.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicole Donnelly
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hello Moxie
  • Show Website
    Hello Moxie