Climbing the Corporate Ladder without Breaking a Heel

Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer
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Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel is a leadership and career advancement podcast for ambitious women who want more than career advice. It explores the ideas shaping women in leadership, executive leadership, career growth, stronger organizations, and more intentional careers. Hosted by executive advisor, bestselling author, speaker, and Human Capital Strategist Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, each episode features conversations with respected executives, researchers, authors, entrepreneurs, board directors, and thought leaders. Together, they explore leadership development, career advancement, human capital strategy, organizational effectiveness, executive decision-making, workplace dynamics, and the future of work. At the center of the podcast is one foundational belief: Drift is the gradual movement away from what matters most and what is required for future success. In our careers, leadership, organizations, and lives, drift is rarely dramatic. It happens one decision, one compromise, and one missed opportunity at a time. Each conversation examines how exceptional leaders recognize early signals, identify emerging patterns, and choose direction before small misalignments become significant consequences. While the ideas are relevant to every leader, the conversations are intentionally framed for ambitious women navigating leadership, influence, career progression, executive careers, and the path to senior leadership. The goal isn't simply to climb higher. It's to build a career of significance, intention, and lasting impact.

  1. 3d ago

    Authentic Leadership, Women in Business & Breaking Taboos | Cindy Gallop

    How can women become more confident leaders, speak their truth, and challenge societal expectations?  Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with advertising icon, entrepreneur, and TED Talk speaker Cindy Gallop to discuss authentic leadership, women's empowerment, workplace confidence, and breaking barriers in business.  Cindy shares her approach to personal values, speaking up at work, and challenging the status quo. ] They also explore sex education, pornography's influence on relationships, online safety, and the importance of open conversations without shame. Discover how small daily actions can transform leadership, relationships, and personal growth.

  2. Oct 6

    The "Good Girl" Trap: How People-Pleasing and Perfectionism Hold Women Back at Work | Michelle Minnikin

    What if the qualities that made you a "good girl" are the same ones quietly holding you back in your career? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with chartered organizational psychologist, author, and speaker Michelle Minnikin to unpack "good girl" conditioning and the impact it can have on women in the workplace. Michelle shares how her own ADHD diagnosis led her to question behaviors she had long considered part of her personality, including people-pleasing, perfectionism, conflict avoidance, over-preparing, and struggling to set boundaries. What she discovered was something much bigger: many of these behaviors can be learned survival strategies shaped by societal expectations and gender conditioning. Cynthia and Michelle explore how those unwritten rules follow women into the workplace. Be perfect. Work harder. Don't be difficult. Keep your emotions in check. Make sure you're completely qualified before you raise your hand. And, perhaps most damaging of all, do great work and wait for someone to notice. They also examine how gender conditioning affects career advancement, confidence, leadership, and self-advocacy, and why women may approach professional opportunities differently than men. The conversation moves into aging, menopause, power, and what happens when women become more direct, assertive, and less willing to follow the rules they were taught. Michelle leaves listeners with a deceptively simple challenge: start noticing the word "should." Every time you think, "I should do this," "I should be better at that," or "I shouldn't say that," ask yourself: Who taught me that rule, and do I actually want to keep following it? If you've ever been called a perfectionist, a people-pleaser, an overachiever, or "too much" the moment you started setting boundaries, this conversation may change the way you see yourself and your career. In this episode, you'll learn: What "good girl" conditioning is and how it develops Why people-pleasing, perfectionism, and conflict avoidance may be survival strategies rather than personality traits How gender conditioning can affect women's career advancement and leadership Why high-achieving women often over-prepare and wait until they feel completely qualified How workplace expectations influence boundaries, emotions, confidence, and self-advocacy Why aging and menopause can shift women's relationships with power and assertiveness How identifying the "shoulds" in your life can help you separate societal expectations from what you actually want It's time to question the rules, rethink the behaviors you've been rewarded for, and decide which ones still deserve a place in your life and career.

  3. Sep 29

    Covert Narcissism, Trauma Bonds & Reclaiming Your Agency with Laura Richards

    What happens when you realize you've spent years giving away your power without even knowing it? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Laura Richards, author of Married to a "Nice Guy": Getting Over Narcissistic Abuse and host of the That's Where I'm Atpodcast, for a candid conversation about recognizing manipulation, setting boundaries, and reclaiming your agency at work and in life. Laura shares her experience of spending 32 years married to a covert narcissist and how, over time, constantly trying to meet shifting expectations left her feeling like a shell of herself. She opens up about what it took to recognize the patterns, leave the relationship, break the trauma bond, and begin rebuilding a life centered on what she wanted. Together, Cynthia and Laura unpack what covert narcissism can look like when it hides behind the image of the helpful, likeable "nice guy." They explore tactics including gaslighting, DARVO, isolation, and smear campaigns, and why these behaviors can leave someone questioning their own instincts and reality. But these dynamics aren't limited to personal relationships. The conversation also turns to the workplace, where manipulation, control, and narcissistic behaviors can show up in bosses, colleagues, and organizational cultures. Laura and Cynthia discuss the importance of documenting conversations, creating clear records, recognizing unhealthy patterns, and setting boundaries that protect both your career and your sense of self. At the center of the episode is a bigger question: What does it actually mean to reclaim your agency? For Laura, it means combining self-love with boundaries and giving yourself permission to ask what you want, rather than constantly shaping your choices around someone else's expectations. Whether you're navigating a difficult relationship, an unhealthy workplace dynamic, or simply realizing you've been putting your own needs at the bottom of the list, this episode is an invitation to stop, reflect, and start taking your power back. In this episode, you'll learn: How to recognize common signs of covert narcissism and emotional manipulation What gaslighting and DARVO can look like in everyday interactions How trauma bonds form and why breaking them can be so difficult Why boundaries and self-love have to work together How narcissistic and controlling behaviors can appear in the workplace Why documenting communication can be critical when dealing with a difficult boss How to reconnect with what you actually want What it can look like to reclaim your agency, one decision at a time Climbing the ladder isn't only about getting the next title. It's also about knowing when to trust yourself, protect your boundaries, and decide for yourself what comes next.

  4. Sep 22

    Stop Doing Everyone Else's Job | Liz Weber

    Are you leading at the level you were hired to lead, or are you still doing work that should belong to someone else? Leadership expert Liz Weber, CSP, CMC, President of Weber Business Services, joins Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to unpack what it really takes to grow from a hands-on doer into a strategic leader. Liz shares her Five Stages of Focused Leadership Development, from doing and managing to strategic leadership, mentoring, and eventually building a team that can thrive through leadership transitions. She explains why so many leaders get stuck in the management stage, how taking work back from your team can quietly undermine delegation and accountability, and why leadership growth often requires doing less, not piling more onto an already overflowing plate. The conversation also dives into executive communication and workplace expectations, including the hidden message you may be sending when you fire off emails late at night or over the weekend. Liz explains how leaders can communicate more intentionally, create context before introducing change, and stop wasting energy on labels and outside perceptions. You'll learn how to: • Delegate without micromanaging or taking the work back • Move from tactical management to strategic leadership • Build accountability and critical thinking within your team • Create time and space to focus on the future of your organization • Develop and mentor talent at every level • Communicate expectations without creating unnecessary stress • Recognize when you're doing work that no longer belongs at your level • Prepare your team for growth, succession, and leadership transitions Liz leaves leaders with one deceptively simple question: Are you delivering what they hired you to do, or are you doing someone else's work? If you're an executive, manager, emerging leader, or ambitious professional trying to become a more strategic and effective leader, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what leadership development actually looks like, and what you may need to stop doing to reach the next level.

  5. Sep 15

    The Hidden Cost of Women Always Saying Yes | Dr. Wendy O'Connor

    What happens when being the woman who can handle everything starts costing you yourself? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen Mercer sits down with Stanford-trained psychologist and coach Dr. Wendy O'Connor to unpack a pattern many high-achieving women know all too well: saying yes to everyone and everything while quietly saying no to themselves. Dr. O'Connor calls it self-abandonment. It happens when work, family, expectations, and endless obligations consistently take priority over your own needs, values, and well-being. Over time, those seemingly small choices can erode self-trust and lead to burnout, resentment, and feeling disconnected from the life you worked so hard to build. Together, Cynthia and Wendy explore why high-achieving, ambitioius women are especially prone to overfunctioning, how boundaries can protect your time and energy, and why "the answer is no" can be a powerful framework for making decisions that actually align with what you want. You'll also learn how to rebuild self-trust through small, everyday commitments rather than dramatic life overhauls, and how to start practicing "no" in low-stakes moments until advocating for yourself becomes second nature. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

  6. Sep 8

    Women in Leadership: What Happens After Breaking the Glass Ceiling | Julia C. Carreon

    What happens to women in leadership after they break the glass ceiling, only to find themselves being excluded, undermined, or pushed out? Julia C. Carreon, former Global Head of Platform and Experiences for Citi Wealth and co-author of Walking on Broken Glass, joins Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to examine workplace exclusion, self-gaslighting, career advancement, and the hidden barriers executive women can face at the highest levels of leadership. Drawing from Julia's own corporate experience and interviews with more than 100 women, they explore the warning signs that your position may be eroding, what to do when you believe you're being pushed out, and how women can better support other women in the workplace. This conversation offers practical insight for women navigating leadership, executive careers, the glass ceiling, and high-stakes career transitions. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

  7. Sep 1

    Resume Mistakes That Cost You Job Interviews | Sonal Bahl

    Why isn't your resume getting you job interviews? And what separates qualified candidates from the professionals who actually get hired or promoted? Executive career coach Sonal Bahl joins Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to break down resume mistakes, job interview strategies, LinkedIn optimization, personal branding, and how to communicate your value in a competitive job market. Sonal explains why talented professionals often understate their accomplishments and how to position yourself as a high-value candidate rather than simply listing responsibilities. She shares her "Painkiller" framework for communicating your value, the WIDOM resume formula for stronger resume bullet points, and the 3C storytelling method for answering interview questions with confidence. Whether you're conducting a job search, updating your resume or LinkedIn profile, preparing for a job interview, negotiating salary, or positioning yourself for your next promotion, this conversation offers practical career advice you can use immediately. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

  8. Aug 25 ·  Video

    Finding Your Purpose After Burnout with Sonia Azad

    What happens when the career you've worked decades to build no longer aligns with the life you want to live? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Sonia Azad, a two-time Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist, wellness advocate, yoga instructor, and entrepreneur, to discuss her remarkable journey from the newsroom to a purpose-driven life. After spending 20 years covering everything from crime scenes to public health, Sonia opens up about the hidden emotional toll of journalism, secondary trauma, and the burnout that ultimately led her to rethink success. She shares how losing a job unexpectedly became the catalyst for building a thriving wellness business, leading transformational retreats, and embracing a life centered on freedom and intention. Together, Cynthia and Sonia explore what it means to redefine purpose, recover from burnout, and create space for the life you actually want to live. Sonia also introduces her powerful "Me Mode" practice, a simple five-minute daily ritual designed to help you reconnect with yourself before the demands of the day take over. In this episode, you'll learn: How secondary trauma and burnout can quietly reshape your career Why losing your job isn't always the end of your story How Sonia transitioned from Emmy-winning journalist to wellness entrepreneur The importance of creating a life aligned with your values instead of external expectations How the "Me Mode" framework can help reduce stress and increase clarity A practical exercise you can use today to reconnect with yourself If you're feeling exhausted, questioning your next chapter, or searching for more meaning in your work and life, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and permission to choose yourself. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

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About

Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel is a leadership and career advancement podcast for ambitious women who want more than career advice. It explores the ideas shaping women in leadership, executive leadership, career growth, stronger organizations, and more intentional careers. Hosted by executive advisor, bestselling author, speaker, and Human Capital Strategist Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, each episode features conversations with respected executives, researchers, authors, entrepreneurs, board directors, and thought leaders. Together, they explore leadership development, career advancement, human capital strategy, organizational effectiveness, executive decision-making, workplace dynamics, and the future of work. At the center of the podcast is one foundational belief: Drift is the gradual movement away from what matters most and what is required for future success. In our careers, leadership, organizations, and lives, drift is rarely dramatic. It happens one decision, one compromise, and one missed opportunity at a time. Each conversation examines how exceptional leaders recognize early signals, identify emerging patterns, and choose direction before small misalignments become significant consequences. While the ideas are relevant to every leader, the conversations are intentionally framed for ambitious women navigating leadership, influence, career progression, executive careers, and the path to senior leadership. The goal isn't simply to climb higher. It's to build a career of significance, intention, and lasting impact.

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