Career Project: Women, career & leadership

Leanne Fields
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Career Project is the definitive narrative podcast for ambitious women navigating the complex landscape of modern work, hosted by seasoned career strategist Leanne Fields. Each episode delivers a vivid, emotionally resonant exploration of professional life, blending intimate storytelling with actionable leadership insights to empower listeners to take ownership of their trajectories. Leanne’s warm yet authoritative voice creates an immersive experience that feels like a candid conversation with a trusted mentor, guiding you through the highs and lows of corporate climbing and entrepreneurial risk-taking. Dive deep into essential themes such as executive presence, salary negotiation strategies, workplace dynamics, and the nuanced art of female leadership in male-dominated industries. The show covers critical topics including overcoming imposter syndrome, building authentic networks, managing burnout, and finding work-life integration rather than balance. Listeners will discover practical advice on transitioning careers, negotiating promotions, and cultivating resilience in high-pressure environments. From understanding office politics to mastering personal branding, every story is crafted to provide clarity and confidence for women seeking to redefine success on their own terms. This series is designed for driven professionals, aspiring leaders, and entrepreneurs who crave more than just generic tips—they want real-world narratives that reflect their struggles and triumphs. With new episodes released weekly, Career Project offers a consistent cadence of inspiration and education, delivered through Leanne’s empathetic and insightful perspective. It serves as a vital resource for anyone ready to invest in their professional growth and build a fulfilling, impactful career path. Join a community of empowered women dedicated to shaping their futures. Subscribe to Career Project today and start your journey toward confident, intentional leadership. Topics: women in leadership, career development for women, female entrepreneurship, workplace navigation, executive coaching, salary negotiation tips, overcoming imposter syndrome, professional growth, business strategy for women, leadership skills training, career transition stories, work-life integration, corporate ladder climbing, networking for women, personal branding advice, burnout prevention, office politics, confidence building #WomenInLeadership #CareerGrowth #FemaleEntrepreneurs #WorkplaceWellness #ExecutivePresence #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipSkills #CareerAdvice #BusinessStrategy #ImposterSyndrome #SalaryNegotiation #WorkLifeBalance #CorporateCulture #NetworkingTips #PersonalBranding #Empowerment

  1. 16h ago

    When Your Boss Blocks Growth: The Hidden Cost of Loyalty | Career Project

    This episode of Career Project explores the hidden psychological and professional costs of staying loyal to a boss who actively blocks your career growth. Host Adriana MacInnes dissects the dynamic where leaders mistake employee loyalty for a lack of ambition, often suppressing high-performing team members to maintain control and comfort. This narrative is essential for ambitious professionals, women in leadership, and anyone feeling stuck in a role where their potential is being contained rather than cultivated. It addresses the specific pain points of modern workplace dynamics, offering clarity on how to identify when you are being managed for predictability rather than progress. The discussion delves deep into the concept of reciprocal loyalty versus dependency, highlighting how insecure managers hoard credit and limit visibility to prevent subordinates from becoming threats. Through real-world examples, including the story of 'Sarah,' a marketing director who realized her mentorship was being stifled under the guise of 'focus,' listeners learn to recognize structural indicators of containment. The episode provides actionable strategies for building an independent professional brand, documenting impact for external validation, and creating a safety net that detaches self-worth from managerial approval. It emphasizes the importance of becoming undeniable through quantifiable achievements and external networking, ensuring that your value is recognized across the entire industry ecosystem, not just within your current office walls. Finally, the episode confronts the difficult decision of whether to stay or leave, framing resignation not as failure but as strategic pruning necessary for long-term career thriving. It encourages listeners to assess their trajectory honestly, update their resumes as a tool for self-affirmation, and reconnect with their professional identity outside their immediate hierarchy. By shifting focus from seeking permission to demanding respect, professionals can reclaim their agency and negotiate harder or exit gracefully when their environment becomes toxic to their growth. This guide is vital for those ready to stop playing their boss's game and start defining their own horizon. Listen now to uncover the truth about workplace loyalty and take charge of your professional destiny. If this episode resonated with you, please support the show by visiting our website and sharing it with a colleague who needs to hear this message today. More from Career Project: https://humanitymedia.org/career-project Topics: career growth blocked, toxic boss signs, professional development tips, workplace loyalty vs dependency, how to handle insecure managers, career advancement strategies, leaving a job gracefully, building personal brand at work, employee empowerment, leadership insecurity signs, negotiating salary and promotion, burnout prevention career, women in business growth, quiet quitting symptoms, executive presence training #careergrowth #workplacewellness #leadershipdevelopment #employeementality #careeradvice #businessgrowth #professionalbranding #worklifebalance #entrepreneurmindset #careercoaching #selfadvocacy #managementtips Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/career-project/2026-10-21.txt

  2. 1d ago

    When Respect Feels Better Than Equity: The Quiet Trap of Being Liked | Career Project

    In this episode of Career Project, host Charis Mcclure explores the subtle but costly trap of choosing respect over equity in your career. Many professionals, particularly women, find themselves hesitating to negotiate for ownership stakes or higher compensation because they fear losing likability or appearing 'difficult.' This episode dissects why we are conditioned to value immediate social validation—such as praise and pleasant interactions—over long-term financial assets like stock options and equity. By sharing personal anecdotes and client stories, Charis illustrates how trading potential wealth for temporary comfort can lead to significant regret when companies restructure or face layoffs. The discussion delves into the psychological mechanics behind this choice, highlighting that respect is a renewable resource for employers, while equity is an appreciating asset. Listeners will learn to distinguish between being liked and being respected, understanding that true professional respect comes from trust, integrity, and boundaries rather than agreeableness. The episode provides tactical advice on reframing negotiation as stewardship of your future, encouraging you to document hard assets and revenue generated to justify your worth. It challenges the myth that leadership requires likability, showing how abrasiveness in men is often framed as drive, while similar behavior in women is penalized. Key takeaways include practical exercises for identifying when you have fallen into the trap of prioritizing harmony over value, such as accepting out-of-scope projects or declining promotions due to anxiety. Charis emphasizes the importance of building ownership outside of employment by documenting wins, maintaining a brag sheet, and cultivating a network of ambitious peers who hold you accountable. The episode concludes with a powerful call to action: prioritize effectiveness over niceness, be willing to be misunderstood or inconvenient, and claim your equity to secure your freedom and financial independence. If you are ready to stop apologizing for your ambition and start negotiating for the ownership you deserve, listen now. Support the show and access additional resources by visiting the link below. More from Career Project: https://humanitymedia.org/career-project Topics: negotiating equity, career advancement for women, choosing respect over money, workplace likability trap, compensation negotiation tips, corporate culture myths, financial freedom at work, professional boundaries, asking for raises, ownership mindset career, women in business leadership, career growth strategies, workplace dynamics #equity #negotiation #careeradvice #womeninbusiness #leadership #worklifebalance #financialfreedom #ambition #respect #growthmindset #careertips #ownership Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/career-project/2026-10-20.txt

  3. 2d ago

    Stop Shouting, Start Showing Up: Authority Through Quiet Consistency | Career Project

    In this episode of Career Project, host Leanne Fields challenges the pervasive myth that visibility equals value and volume equals influence. This guide is essential for ambitious women in leadership who feel pressured to prove their worth through constant availability, loud opinions, and performative busyness. We explore why the 'loudest voice in the room' often becomes the most overlooked, and how true authority is built not through shouting, but through quiet consistency, predictability, and emotional steadiness. If you are tired of feeling like you are constantly auditioning for your role or burning out trying to keep up with corporate noise, this episode offers a transformative alternative: becoming the anchor rather than the performer. We dive deep into the psychological cost of chasing volume, explaining how reactive behavior drains your capacity for strategic thinking and long-term career growth. By sharing personal anecdotes and professional insights, we illustrate how consistency creates safety for colleagues and superiors, making you indispensable in chaotic environments. You will learn practical strategies to shift from being a tactical worker bee to a strategic leader, including techniques for under-promising and over-delivering, proactive communication, and protecting your focus. The episode emphasizes that reliability builds trust equity, which serves as a shield against mistakes and office politics, allowing you to take calculated risks without fear of condemnation. This discussion also addresses common misconceptions about quiet leadership, clarifying the difference between arrogance and thoughtful silence. We provide actionable steps to cultivate a reputation of calm competence, such as maintaining consistent rhythms, guarding your energy, and communicating capacity honestly. These small, daily actions compound over time to create a bulletproof professional brand that commands respect without demanding attention. Whether you are navigating early-career uncertainty or seeking senior leadership roles, understanding how to build authority through presence rather than performance is critical for sustainable success. Join Leanne Fields as she guides you toward unshakeable confidence and professional integrity. Discover how to stop reacting to every ping and start leading with intention. Listen now to transform your approach to work and build a career defined by depth, trust, and lasting impact. Support the show and access exclusive resources at the link below. More from Career Project: https://humanitymedia.org/career-project Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/career-project/2026-10-19.txt

  4. 3d ago

    The Brutal Truth About Transparent Salary Negotiations | Career Project

    In this episode of Career Project, host Leanne Fields delivers a hard-hitting analysis of transparent salary negotiations, challenging the modern advice that encourages candidates to state their numbers immediately. This guide is essential for women in career, business, and entrepreneurship who feel pressured to be 'authentic' during compensation talks but find themselves undervalued as a result. Leanne argues that transparency without leverage is not honesty; it is vulnerability disguised as strategy, often leading to lower offers because you anchor the conversation at your lowest acceptable rate rather than your highest potential value. The episode dives deep into the psychological mechanics of negotiation, explaining how disclosing salary ranges too early removes your ability to walk away and hands the hiring manager the blueprint to your bottom line. Leanne shares personal anecdotes from her advisory firm days to illustrate how letting others name the price results in lowball offers driven by risk minimization. She introduces concrete strategies for reframing salary discussions, such as delaying the number to focus on scope, impact, and problem-solving. By shifting the dynamic from subordinate to consultant, you force employers to articulate the value you bring before discussing cost, allowing you to attach a price to a solution rather than negotiating against market rates or past salaries. Furthermore, the discussion addresses the critical gendered lens applied to salary negotiations, where women are often penalized for assertiveness while men are rewarded. Leanne emphasizes that building 'armor' through preparation—knowing your BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement), understanding company budgets, and securing financial runway—is crucial for navigating these biases with quiet certainty. The takeaway is clear: true power comes from optionality and the willingness to leave if the value exchange isn't right. This episode provides the tools to stop pleasing others and start proposing business arrangements based on results, not feelings. If you are ready to stop guessing and start naming your worth, listen closely to these strategies for reclaiming your power in the boardroom. For more insights on leadership and career growth, visit our website and support the show via the link below. Your future self will thank you for investing in this shift in mindset today. More from Career Project: https://humanitymedia.org/career-project Topics: salary negotiation tips, women in leadership, career advice for women, how to negotiate salary, transparent salary discussions, compensation strategy, job interview questions, professional development, workplace equality, leverage in negotiations, business etiquette, career growth strategies, executive presence, financial confidence #salarynegotiation #womenthrive #careertips #leadershipskills #workplaceequality #negotiationstrategies #professionalgrowth #paygap #careeradvice #empowerment #businessstrategy #knowyourworth Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/career-project/2026-10-18.txt

  5. 4d ago

    Trading Paychecks for Purpose: Why I Left My High-Paying Job | Career Project

    In this deeply personal and tactical episode of Career Project, host Charis Mcclure shares her raw journey of leaving a high-paying corporate strategy job to pursue purpose-driven work. This story is essential for professionals experiencing burnout, imposter syndrome, or the quiet despair of trading their soul for prestige. We explore the terrifying moment of resignation, the 'career withdrawal' that follows, and the practical steps needed to build a safety net before making such a life-altering leap. If you are feeling trapped by your title or questioning whether success should cost you your peace, this episode offers both emotional validation and concrete advice. Charis breaks down the psychological toll of corporate life, describing how efficiency in draining tasks can lead to self-destruction. She details the specific actions she took before quitting: saving six months of expenses, negotiating severance ruthlessly, and cutting non-essential costs. The narrative moves beyond the decision itself to address the difficult morning after—the emptiness, the guilt of unemployment, and the challenge of unlearning the idea that worth is tied to output. Listeners will find comfort in the concept of treating their exit as a business strategy, ensuring financial stability while reclaiming their identity from their LinkedIn profile. As the fog lifts, the episode highlights the shift from viewing a career as a ladder to tending it as a garden. Charis discusses the joy of small risks, consulting work, and finding creativity without committee approval. She emphasizes that while the income may be less, the stress disappears, replaced by quiet confidence and presence. This is not just a story about rebellion; it is a survival guide for anyone who needs to survive themselves first. It challenges the listener to distinguish between safety (absence of pain) and happiness (presence of purpose), urging them to trust their gut over their spreadsheets. Whether you are considering a career pivot, struggling with work-life balance, or simply need permission to prioritize your mental health, this episode provides a roadmap for reclaiming your time and identity. Join Charis as she redefines ambition on her own terms. Support the show and access exclusive resources by visiting the link in the description. More from Career Project: https://humanitymedia.org/career-project Topics: career burnout recovery, leaving corporate job, finding purpose in work, quitting high paying job, professional identity crisis, work life balance tips, entrepreneurial mindset shift, overcoming imposter syndrome, financial planning for career change, mental health at work, post-resignation anxiety, building a safety net, authentic career path #careerchange #burnoutrecovery #purposeoverpaycheck #corporateexit #mentalhealthmatters #worklifebalance #selfdiscovery #entrepreneurlife #mindfulcareer #quityourjob #personalgrowth #ambitionrealigned Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/career-project/2026-10-17.txt

  6. 5d ago

    The Power of Saying 'I Need Help' Publicly | Career Project

    In this episode of Career Project, host Adriana MacInnes dismantles the toxic myth of the 'self-made founder' and argues that publicly saying 'I need help' is a critical strategic asset for entrepreneurial growth. This episode is essential listening for founders, CEOs, and business leaders who are struggling with burnout, imposter syndrome, or the isolation of leadership. We explore how the pressure to maintain an image of perfect competence drains mental clarity, stifles creativity, and creates dangerous bottlenecks in your business. By sharing personal stories of failure and micromanagement, we reveal why vulnerability is not a weakness but a powerful tool for building psychological safety within high-performing teams. Drawing on insights from Google’s research on team dynamics, we discuss how admitting uncertainty invites collaboration and innovation. The conversation moves from theory to practical mechanics, offering actionable advice on how to ask for help without losing authority. Key takeaways include dropping apologetic language, being specific about the support you need, and cultivating a robust ecosystem of mentors, peers, and advisors. Learn how to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, transforming your support network into the fertile 'soil' that allows your business vision to truly thrive. This episode provides concrete steps for fostering authenticity, improving employee retention, and creating a sustainable culture where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities rather than failures. We also examine the long-term benefits of community-minded growth versus viral spikes, emphasizing that anchored, trust-based foundations last longer than flashy, ego-driven successes. Whether you are scaling a startup or managing an established enterprise, understanding the physics of distributed load and the human element of teamwork is vital. Join us as we unpack the cost of silence and the power of connection, offering a roadmap for leaders ready to trade perfection for progress. Discover how to invite others into your ecosystem, leverage collective expertise, and build a resilient business model rooted in integrity and mutual support. If you found value in these insights, please consider supporting the show via the link below. Your support helps us continue to bring deep, thoughtful conversations about career development and entrepreneurship to our listeners. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with any founder who needs permission to be human. More from Career Project: https://humanitymedia.org/career-project Topics: entrepreneurial burnout, leadership vulnerability, psychological safety at work, startup founder advice, asking for help business, imposter syndrome founders, building high performing teams, authentic leadership, business growth strategies, micromanagement vs delegation, founder mental health, ecosystem building business, team collaboration tips #entrepreneurship #leadershipdevelopment #mentalhealthmatters #startuplife #vulnerabilityisstrength #teamwork #businessgrowth #founderjourney #psychologicalsafety #authenticity #careerproject #burnoutprevention Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/career-project/2026-10-16.txt

  7. Oct 11

    When Your Boss’s Incompetence Becomes Your Career Launchpad | Career Project

    This episode of Career Project explores the critical career strategy of leveraging a boss's incompetence as a launchpad for your own professional growth. Hosted by Adriana MacInnes, this driving and ambitious guide is designed for high-performing employees who feel exhausted by holding up their team while leadership fails. If you are struggling with an incompetent manager, micromanagement, or a chaotic work environment, this episode provides the mental framework and tactical steps to transform frustration into strategic advantage. It addresses the heavy emotional toll of being the 'anchor' in a sinking ship and offers a clear path from silent suffering to visible leadership. The discussion delves deep into the psychology of workplace dynamics, explaining how leaders often cling to control out of panic rather than malice. Adriana breaks down the trap of performing for comfort instead of success, highlighting how this behavior makes competent employees invisible and stifles their potential. Viewers will learn to reframe the vacuum of leadership not as a burden, but as a laboratory for developing steady, empathetic, and strategic skills without needing the official title. The episode emphasizes that seeing clearly when others are asleep at the wheel is a lonely but powerful position if leveraged correctly. Practical advice forms the core of this actionable guide. Listeners are instructed to keep a 'ledger of reality'—documenting patterns of failure and proposing structured solutions to build an undeniable case for their own elevation. This turns anxiety into evidence, shifting the narrative from being difficult to being the essential stabilizer in a broken system. The episode also covers setting glass-wall boundaries, mentoring upwards, and expanding your scope through cross-functional relationships to bypass your direct supervisor. By updating your internal resume and identifying bottlenecks, you prepare yourself to move laterally or upward when the inevitable crisis hits. Ultimately, this episode is about reclaiming your agency and ambition. It encourages you to stop trying to save the house and start building your own legacy within it. Whether you decide to stay and change the culture or leave to find better stability, the goal is to ensure your competence is recognized by the broader organization. Tune in to learn how to breathe through the frustration, propose efficient solutions, and step into the brightness of your own capability. Support the show and join the community of ambitious professionals by visiting our website. More from Career Project: https://humanitymedia.org/career-project Topics: boss incompetence, career growth strategies, workplace leadership skills, dealing with bad managers, professional development tips, employee empowerment, office politics navigation, micromanagement solutions, career advancement advice, workplace exhaustion recovery, strategic career planning, leadership without title #careerproject #entrepreneurship #leadershipskills #worklifebalance #careeradvice #businessgrowth #professionaldevelopment #workplaceculture #ambition #managerproblems #careerlaunch #selfadvocacy Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/career-project/2026-10-11.txt

  8. Oct 10

    The Quiet Courage to Walk Away From a Comfortable Cage | Career Project

    In this episode of Career Project, host Kelsey Norton explores the profound emotional and psychological toll of staying in a secure but unfulfilling corporate job, often referred to as 'golden handcuffs.' This episode is designed for ambitious female founders, mid-level managers, and professionals who feel like ghosts in their own lives despite having stable income and excellent benefits. It addresses the specific anxiety of leaving a comfortable position where you are competent and valued, yet spiritually drained. The narrative dissects the difference between professional competence and personal vitality, offering a compassionate framework for understanding why stability can sometimes feel like a cage. Kelsey dives deep into the concept of the 'emotional interest rate,' explaining how staying in a misaligned role compounds a debt of energy, creativity, and joy over time. She shares insights from her coaching practice, highlighting stories like Elena’s, who felt she was 'rusting' in a safe corporate finance role before finally taking a rescue mission for her own identity. The episode encourages listeners to stress-test their self-worth against their employment contracts, urging them to realize that their value extends far beyond their job title. It provides concrete strategies for managing the grief of letting go of a professional identity and offers actionable steps to rebuild agency without panic. The discussion moves beyond fear to strategy, breaking down the monumental task of career change into manageable, deliberate actions. Listeners learn how to use small wins—like updating a LinkedIn profile or reconnecting with a former colleague—to signal control to their brains and shrink the power of fear. The episode challenges the linear narrative of success, redefining it as alignment rather than status, and empowers women to become the architects of their own careers. It emphasizes that while leaving a secure job involves temporary uncertainty and potential income dips, the long-term viability and mental health gains are worth the investment. If you are feeling stuck, suffocating in a corner office with no windows, or simply tired of optimizing for safety at the cost of being alive, this episode is your permission slip to breathe again. Tune in to discover how to calculate the true cost of staying versus leaving, and find the courage to design a career that serves your life. Support the show and access additional resources by visiting the link below. More from Career Project: https://humanitymedia.org/career-project Topics: golden handcuffs, career change for women, leaving a secure job, corporate burnout recovery, female founder mindset, professional identity crisis, emotional intelligence in business, career strategy tips, overcoming fear of failure, work-life alignment, quiet quitting vs walking away, redefining success #careerproject #femalefounders #careerchange #burnout #entrepreneurship #mindsetshift #womeninbusiness #jobsearch #selfworth #careeradvice #mentalhealth #leadership Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/career-project/2026-10-10.txt

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About

Career Project is the definitive narrative podcast for ambitious women navigating the complex landscape of modern work, hosted by seasoned career strategist Leanne Fields. Each episode delivers a vivid, emotionally resonant exploration of professional life, blending intimate storytelling with actionable leadership insights to empower listeners to take ownership of their trajectories. Leanne’s warm yet authoritative voice creates an immersive experience that feels like a candid conversation with a trusted mentor, guiding you through the highs and lows of corporate climbing and entrepreneurial risk-taking. Dive deep into essential themes such as executive presence, salary negotiation strategies, workplace dynamics, and the nuanced art of female leadership in male-dominated industries. The show covers critical topics including overcoming imposter syndrome, building authentic networks, managing burnout, and finding work-life integration rather than balance. Listeners will discover practical advice on transitioning careers, negotiating promotions, and cultivating resilience in high-pressure environments. From understanding office politics to mastering personal branding, every story is crafted to provide clarity and confidence for women seeking to redefine success on their own terms. This series is designed for driven professionals, aspiring leaders, and entrepreneurs who crave more than just generic tips—they want real-world narratives that reflect their struggles and triumphs. With new episodes released weekly, Career Project offers a consistent cadence of inspiration and education, delivered through Leanne’s empathetic and insightful perspective. It serves as a vital resource for anyone ready to invest in their professional growth and build a fulfilling, impactful career path. Join a community of empowered women dedicated to shaping their futures. Subscribe to Career Project today and start your journey toward confident, intentional leadership. Topics: women in leadership, career development for women, female entrepreneurship, workplace navigation, executive coaching, salary negotiation tips, overcoming imposter syndrome, professional growth, business strategy for women, leadership skills training, career transition stories, work-life integration, corporate ladder climbing, networking for women, personal branding advice, burnout prevention, office politics, confidence building #WomenInLeadership #CareerGrowth #FemaleEntrepreneurs #WorkplaceWellness #ExecutivePresence #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipSkills #CareerAdvice #BusinessStrategy #ImposterSyndrome #SalaryNegotiation #WorkLifeBalance #CorporateCulture #NetworkingTips #PersonalBranding #Empowerment

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