Little Moves, Big Careers: Smart Career Growth Strategies for Ambitious Professionals.

Caroline Esterson from Inspire Your Genius
  • 0.0 (0)
  • CAREERS

Struggling to get noticed and move up in today’s fast-changing workplace? Little Moves, Big Careers is your go-to podcast for smart, actionable career growth strategies that cut through the noise. From visibility and confidence to self-leadership and influence, every episode mixes bold insights, cheeky truths, and practical takeaways that actually work inside real organisations to help you stand out and get promoted. No corporate waffle; just unapologetically honest career talk for people who want to perform, progress, and stand out for all the right reasons. New episodes drop every Tuesday.  Start your journey with 'The Survivor’s Guide' episode to learn how to lead through change and rebuild your career even when things get sticky. Hosted by Caroline Esterson, career strategist and co-founder of www.inspireyourgenius.com, this show reveals the unspoken rules of modern work and teaches you the small, smart moves that make a big difference. Sign up for your Genius Files weekly - your backstage pass to the unspoken rules of high-performance careers. Smart shifts that make you say, “Oh damn, that’s exactly what I needed.”  https://inspire-your-genius.kit.com/a162791a94

  1. 13H AGO

    How To Quiet Imposter Syndrome and Be Seen for the Value You Already Bring

    Send us Fan Mail Do you know you’re capable, yet still find yourself holding back, second guessing your voice, or staying quiet when it matters most?  In this episode, Caroline explores how imposter syndrome quietly chips away at your visibility, influence, and career progress, especially for women in corporate leadership. She unpacks why being seen is not about becoming louder or more self-promotional, but about recognising the value you already bring and making it easier for others to recognise it too. You’ll learn how to stop letting self-doubt silence your contribution in important moments.You’ll discover simple ways to build your influence without changing who you are.You’ll leave with practical, repeatable moves to build influence and create more career momentum from the value you already bring. Play this episode to learn how to quiet imposter syndrome, show up with more certainty, and be seen for the value that has been there all along. This podcast explores resilience, imposter syndrome, and credibility while unpacking how boundaries, conflict, and feedback shape the way we handle pressure, influence, and guilt at work. It also looks at promotion, work-life balance, people pleasing, decision making, and visibility, offering honest conversations about how to grow professionally without losing your confidence or yourself. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew.  Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    12 min

  2. 2D AGO

    The Career Progress Formula Most Women Were Never Taught

    Send us Fan Mail Are you doing exceptional work but still not getting the influence or career progress you expected? For many women in corporate leadership, the issue is not capability - it is visibility. This episode explores how imposter syndrome, workplace dynamics, and outdated assumptions about merit can quietly limit influence and slow career progress, even for highly capable women. You’ll understand why performance alone is rarely enough to move your career forward.You’ll learn how influence, image, and exposure shape career progress in ways most women were never taught.You’ll walk away with simple, practical ways to become more visible and more influential without losing your authenticity.Play this episode to learn how to turn your existing strengths into greater influence, visibility, and real career progress. This podcast explores resilience, imposter syndrome, and credibility while unpacking how boundaries, conflict, and feedback shape the way we handle pressure, influence, and guilt at work. It also looks at promotion, work-life balance, people pleasing, decision making, and visibility, offering honest conversations about how to grow professionally without losing your confidence or yourself. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew.  Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    18 min

  3. 4D AGO

    How High-Performing Women Get Overlooked for Promotions Despite Doing Everything Right

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever watched someone else get the promotion, project, or recognition you worked for and wondered whether they were truly better, or just better seen? This episode speaks directly to women in corporate leadership who are delivering strong results yet still feel overlooked, second-guess themselves, or struggle to turn hard work into real career progression. Caroline Esterson unpacks three deeply familiar workplace moments that reveal a hidden issue behind missed opportunities: visibility. In a world shaped by AI, hybrid work, and return-to-office pressures, being excellent at your job is no longer enough on its own. This conversation helps listeners understand why influence, recognition, and advancement are so often connected to whether the right people can actually see their value.  Understand the real reason strong performance alone does not always lead to promotions or opportunities  Recognise the warning signs that visibility, not capability, may be the thing holding your career back  Start reframing imposter syndrome and career frustration through a more strategic lens of influence and visibility  Play this episode to uncover why your brilliance may be going unnoticed and start seeing what needs to shift for your career progression to finally match your performance. On Wednesday, we'll unpack the why, what, and how of gaining greater influence and drive your career progression forward. This podcast explores resilience, imposter syndrome, and credibility while unpacking how boundaries, conflict, and feedback shape the way we handle pressure, influence, and guilt at work. It also looks at promotion, work-life balance, people pleasing, decision making, and visibility, offering honest conversations about how to grow professionally without losing your confidence or yourself. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew.  Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    6 min

  4. APR 3

    How To Reset Your Confidence in 60 Seconds Before a Big Career Moment

    Send us Fan Mail What do you do in the 60 seconds before a meeting when your confidence has dropped, and the room still needs you at your full size? This episode is for the woman who has done the preparation, knows her material, and still feels herself shrinking right before the moment that matters. Caroline closes the week with a practical reset for those corridor, car park, and loo-cubicle moments when self-trust wobbles and you need something small, fast, and effective to bring you back to yourself. You’ll learn a simple 60-second sequence to interrupt the imposter spiral before a high-stakes momentYou’ll discover how breath, evidence, and one true sentence can calm your nervous system and sharpen your self-trustYou’ll leave with a practical confidence ritual you can use before presentations, difficult conversations, and important meetingsPlay this episode before your next big meeting to reset your nervous system, reconnect to your preparation, and walk in as the version of you who’s ready. Contact Connect with me on LinkedIn Or email me caroline@inspireyourgenius.com with 'Rachel' in the subject line, and I'll send you the full 90-second pre-performance sequence from Friday's episode as a printable card you can keep in your bag. Small enough to fit. Powerful enough to change what happens before your next big moment. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew.  Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    9 min

  5. APR 1

    3 Hidden Reasons Women in Corporate Leadership Struggle With Critical Feedback That No One Is Talking About.

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever received one piece of feedback before a big meeting and suddenly stopped trusting your own judgment? This episode explains what is actually happening inside your brain when critical feedback lands at the worst possible moment. If you’re a capable woman in leadership who tends to soften, over-edit, or second-guess yourself before high-stakes moments, this conversation will help you understand why that response is not weakness, but a predictable mix of biology, conditioning, and workplace dynamics. You’ll understand the neuroscience behind why feedback can trigger a threat response right before an important momentYou’ll learn why highly capable women are often more vulnerable to self-doubt, not lessYou’ll walk away with three practical moves to help you stay grounded, evaluate feedback clearly, and return to your prepared, capable selfPlay this episode to understand your threat response, stop shrinking under pressure, and walk into your next big moment with your full voice intact. References Brene Brown, vulnerability and high achievement research. Carol Gilligan, In A Different Voice (1982). Jean Baker Miller, Toward A New Psychology Of Women (1976).  Victoria Brescoll, Yale (2011). Lieberman et al. (2007) UCLA affect labelling study.  Carol Dweck, Mindset (2006).  Ethan Kross, Chatter (2021). Pete Walker, Complex PTSD (2013).  Valerie Young, The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women (2011). Contact Connect with me on LinkedIn Or email me caroline@inspireyourgenius.com with 'Rachel' in the subject line, and I'll send you the full 90-second pre-performance sequence from Friday's episode as a printable card you can keep in your bag. Small enough to fit. Powerful enough to change what happens before your next big moment. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew.  Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    19 min

  6. MAR 30

    Does Your Response to Feedback Lack Self-Trust, Leading to Weaker Leadership? Here’s How To Fix It Right Now!

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever received one piece of feedback right before an important meeting and suddenly stopped trusting your own judgment? This episode, the story of Rachel and her big presentation, will feel painfully familiar if you’re a capable woman in leadership who can prepare brilliantly, think clearly, and still unravel the moment someone questions your approach. It gets to the heart of why high-achieving women can mistake self-protection for professionalism and dilute their strongest thinking right when visibility matters most.  You will : Understand why this is not simply a confidence problemRecognise the hidden pattern that causes you to soften, edit, and second-guess yourself under pressureLeave reflecting more honestly on how you respond to critical feedback before high-stakes momentsPlay this episode to spot the exact moment self-trust slips and start protecting your best thinking when it matters most. Connect Connect with me on LinkedIn Or email me caroline@inspireyourgenius.com with 'Rachel' in the subject line, and I'll send you the full 90-second pre-performance sequence from Friday's episode as a printable card you can keep in your bag. Small enough to fit. Powerful enough to change what happens before your next big moment. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew.  Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    22 min

  7. MAR 27

    How To Build Confidence At Work — The Brag Folder, Visibility Moves And Why Music Changes Your Brain Before A Big Meeting

    Send us Fan Mail Jocelyn told us she plays hip hop on big project launch days. Something with beats that make her feel excited. Something that pumps her up. This week's song is for her. And for every woman who has been quietly, consistently, almost accidentally extraordinary — and hasn't yet decided to let that be seen. This week's anchor track is Superstar by Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos. It asks one question: if you are what you say you are — have no fear, the camera is here. That is an invitation, not a demand. And the science behind why music changes your physiological state before a high-stakes moment is more compelling than you might think. Plus, we have for you three quickfire career moves that bring together everything from this bonus trilogy — the brag folder Jocelyn swears by, the visibility move from Wednesday's science, and the capacity check that stops the little voice in its tracks. These moves are small enough to do before Monday morning. Powerful enough to change what Monday feels like. This is the last episode before the new season begins. Rachel is waiting. And she is going to feel very familiar. Key Takeaways 1. This week's anchor track. Superstar by Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos (2007). Add it to your Little Moves playlist. Play it before anything that matters. Let Matthew Santos ask you the question — and answer it. 2. The Brag Folder. Start one today. A private, dated record of everything you have done well — however small. Not a CV. Evidence for yourself on the days when the little voice gets loud. Jocelyn has one. Now you do too. 3. One proactive share. Identify one person outside your immediate team who has seen your work and share something with them this week. You are not showing off. You are letting the camera in. 4. The Capacity Check. Before you spiral — is this a capability problem or a capacity problem? If it's capacity, identify the one thing you can put down to free up space for what matters most. 5. The question. If you are what you say you are, have no fear. The camera is here. The only thing standing between you and being seen is your willingness to step into the light... are you ready to step up? Music Featured Superstar — Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos (2007, 1st and 15th / Atlantic Records). Available on all streaming platforms. Add it to your Little Moves playlist. New Season Preview Season One begins Monday. Three episodes a week — story, science and song. You'll meet Rachel. She's on the 8.47 to Victoria. She has an email in her inbox she doesn't want to open. And by the end of the week you're going to understand something about your own brain that you might not have had the language for before. Subscribe now so you don't miss her. And, if you know a woman who has been quietly brilliant and hasn't quite noticed yet — send her this episode. She doesn't have to stay in the 'wait, what' moment. And she's going to want that brag folder. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew.  Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    8 min

  8. MAR 25

    Why Even The Most Capable Women Underestimate Themselves: The Science Of Capability vs Capacity And The Visibility Gap

    Send us Fan Mail On Monday, Jocelyn (VP of Global Brand & Comms, working mum, quietly extraordinary human), said two things that resonated powerfully. The first: that early in her career, she believed doing brilliant work would be enough. And then she quickly realised it wasn't. The second: that returning from maternity leave felt like operating at a lower level, and that she had to remind herself, repeatedly, that she was still capable. In this episode, I'm bringing the science to both of those moments. First, the visibility problem. Why the most competent women are systematically underrecognised, what organisational research tells us about how careers actually advance, and the single question that changes how you think about your professional reputation forever. Second, capability versus capacity. The four words that I believe are the most important distinction in this show. Why women consistently confuse the two, what cognitive load theory tells us about performance under pressure, and how to stop the little voice from lying to you about what is actually happening. Eight minutes. Two ideas. Both from Jocelyn's conversation. Both with the science to back them up. This is the episode you'll want to send to every woman you know who has ever said: I'm just not performing the way I used to. Key Takeaways 1. Capability vs capacity. Capacity is the only thing that changes when life gets fuller. A new role, a new baby, a restructure, a fuller life — none of these reduce your capability. They reduce your available cognitive space. These are not the same thing. Stop letting the little voice tell you they are. 2. The visibility problem is structural, not personal. The most competent people are systematically underrecognised because competence and visibility are two different things. Herminia Ibarra's research shows that career advancement depends not on what you can do but on whether the right people know you can do it. 3. Weak ties drive careers forward. Mark Granovetter's landmark research shows that opportunities — promotions, stretch assignments, sponsorship — almost never come through your closest relationships. They come through acquaintances who can say your name in a room you're not in. 4. The capacity check. Before you spiral — ask: is this a capability problem or a capacity problem? If it's capacity, identify one thing you can put down to free up space for what matters most. 5. One proactive share. Identify one person outside your immediate team who has seen your work. Share something with them this week. Not boastfully. Just a door opened. Research References Herminia Ibarra — Act Like A Leader, Think Like A Leader (2015).  Mark Granovetter — The Strength of Weak Ties (1973). Landmark research on how career opportunities actually move through networks. John Sweller — Cognitive Load Theory (1988). Research on working memory capacity and performance under pressure. You can connect with Caroline here and email her caroline@inspireyourgenius.com Action If you know a woman who has ever said I'm just not performing the way I used to Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew.  Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    8 min
See All (62)

Trailer

About

Struggling to get noticed and move up in today’s fast-changing workplace? Little Moves, Big Careers is your go-to podcast for smart, actionable career growth strategies that cut through the noise. From visibility and confidence to self-leadership and influence, every episode mixes bold insights, cheeky truths, and practical takeaways that actually work inside real organisations to help you stand out and get promoted. No corporate waffle; just unapologetically honest career talk for people who want to perform, progress, and stand out for all the right reasons. New episodes drop every Tuesday.  Start your journey with 'The Survivor’s Guide' episode to learn how to lead through change and rebuild your career even when things get sticky. Hosted by Caroline Esterson, career strategist and co-founder of www.inspireyourgenius.com, this show reveals the unspoken rules of modern work and teaches you the small, smart moves that make a big difference. Sign up for your Genius Files weekly - your backstage pass to the unspoken rules of high-performance careers. Smart shifts that make you say, “Oh damn, that’s exactly what I needed.”  https://inspire-your-genius.kit.com/a162791a94

Information