The Career Clinic Podcast

Ronnie Dickerson Stewart
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I'm so excited to introduce The Career Clinic, powered by OhHeyCoach, with your host, me, Ronnie Dickerson Stewart! I've coached & consulted with countless individuals from interns to C-suite leaders on how to navigate their stickiest career moments. In this clinic and in the time we get to share, I hope to do the same with you! Whether you're in the "staying, growing or going" stage, on this podcast, no career topic is off the table. Truth Moment: Everyone does not have equal access to executive coaching and career advancement resources. I believe everyone should be able to access tools to chart a successful career path that uniquely serves them. So YOU can think of me as a coach, consultant, or mentor who is one click and download away. Welcome to The Career Clinic Podcast (powered by OhHeyCoach), I can't wait to see how we learn and grow together!

  1. 93. How to Know When to Go

    5H AGO

    93. How to Know When to Go

    Episode 93: How to Know When to Go The Career Clinic Podcast Host: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart Episode Overview Welcome to Week Four — the final week — of The Career Clinic Podcast January Intensive Series. In Episode 93, Ronnie tackles one of the most consequential career questions many people face: How do you know when it's time to go? Not quitting reactively. Not staying out of fear, loyalty, or inertia. Not confusing a hard season with a finished one. This episode offers a grounded, practical approach to discerning when a chapter is complete — and when what's actually required is a pause, reset, or renegotiation instead of an exit. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ Why "stay or go" is rarely a simple yes/no decision ✔️ How to distinguish misalignment from normal discomfort ✔️ A practical framework to assess your current season ✔️ The difference between a Going Season and a Woahing Season ✔️ Why staying too long can quietly erode health and momentum ✔️ How to prepare for transitions without panic or urgency ✔️ What aligned leaving actually looks like The Core Framework: Earning, Learning, Leveraging ✍🏾 Ronnie introduces a decision-making framework she uses frequently with coaching clients navigating inflection points. Ask yourself three questions: 1. Am I earning? Not just salary — but fair compensation, resources, respect, and support relative to the value you're creating. 2. Am I learning? Are you still growing, stretching, or building skills that matter for your future? 3. Am I leveraging? Is this role, leader, or organization creating momentum, credibility, or access for what's next? If the answer is no to two or more, it's time to pause and evaluate — not panic, but pay attention. When It May Be Time to Go If earning, learning, or leveraging cannot be improved — even after conversations, negotiation, or boundary-setting — that's often a signal the season may be ending. Going doesn't require immediate action. It requires clarity. Key questions include: What would need to change for this to work? Is that change realistically possible here? If not, what provision and timeline would I need to exit well? Leaving well is a process, not a reaction. An Important Signal: Languishing 🤎 Ronnie names a signal that deserves serious attention: languishing. This isn't a bad week or temporary fatigue. It's the slow loss of energy, clarity, and connection to yourself. Languishing often costs: Physical and mental health Personal relationships Confidence and self-trust Long-term career momentum No role is worth sustained erosion. Going Season vs. Woahing Season This episode adds nuance using Ronnie's Five Seasons Framework, with a clear distinction between Going Season and Woahing Season. Going Season A season of intentional preparation to leave — a role, organization, identity, or chapter that no longer fits. The clarity here is steady and persistent, not emotional or reactive. Woahing Season A pause season. Not leaving — but slowing down, repacing, restoring energy, resetting boundaries, or addressing overextension. Woahing is about saying "Hold on", not "I'm done." Leaving during a Woahing Season often means carrying the same patterns into the next chapter. When Going Isn't Your Choice Ronnie also addresses involuntary transitions — layoffs, restructures, and role eliminations. Key reminders: These are business decisions, not reflections of your worth You still get to shape your narrative Preparation protects you, even if nothing changes Preparation can include: Maintaining relationships inside and outside your organization Staying visible without becoming performative Creating financial runway when possible Paying attention without spiraling What Going Well Requires If you're clear that it's time to go, this episode emphasizes three essentials: Clarity Know what you're moving toward — even if it's rest, recovery, or space. Planning Timeline, provision, and next steps matter. Grace Leaving is emotionally complex, even when it's right. Aligned exits are thoughtful, not dramatic. Listener Reflection 🤎 This week, complete an Earning, Learning, Leveraging audit. Then ask: Am I in a Going Season or a Woahing Season? What one step would bring clarity right now? Discernment is part of leadership. There's no rush. Links & Resources 🤎 📩 Join the OhHeyMonday Newsletter Weekly reflections, tools, and leadership guidance 👉🏾 www.ohheyjoin.com 📝 Ask OhHeyCoach Submit a question for a future episode 👉🏾 https://form.typeform.com/to/ja89DHpT 🤝 Work With OhHeyCoach Executive coaching, leadership development, and career design 👉🏾 www.ohheycoach.com 📬 Contact info@ohheycoach.com

    28 min
  2. 92. Managing Your Stakeholders (Without Losing Yourself)

    1D AGO

    92. Managing Your Stakeholders (Without Losing Yourself)

    Episode 92: Managing Your Stakeholders (Without Losing Yourself) The Career Clinic Podcast Host: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart Episode Overview Welcome to Week Four — the final week — of The Career Clinic Podcast January Intensive Series. This week is focused on designing your career on purpose, with practical tactics you can apply immediately. In Episode 92, Ronnie tackles a topic that consistently trips up capable, thoughtful professionals: managing your stakeholders — without burning out, people-pleasing, or losing yourself in the process. This conversation reframes stakeholder management away from "corporate politics" and toward self-advocacy, stewardship, and clarity. The goal isn't to perform or overextend. It's to ensure the people who influence your progress and provision actually understand your value, priorities, and boundaries. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ What "stakeholders" really means — beyond your direct manager ✔️ Why stakeholder complexity increases as you become more senior ✔️ How mismanaged relationships lead to burnout, resentment, and missed opportunity ✔️ The shift from passive to participatory career management ✔️ A practical framework for managing stakeholder relationships intentionally ✔️ How to advocate for yourself without shrinking or over-explaining ✔️ When it's time to adjust — or exit — a stakeholder relationship Who Are Your Stakeholders, Really? In this episode, Ronnie defines stakeholders as anyone who influences your progress or your provision. That can include: Your manager and leadership team Skip-level leaders Clients and vendors Cross-functional partners Board members Collaborators on key initiatives As careers advance, stakeholder webs become more complex — not simpler. Managing up, down, and across requires intention, not assumption. The Core Shift: Passive → Participatory A common mistake many people make is waiting to be understood. They assume: Stakeholders know what they're working on Stakeholders understand what they need Past performance will speak for itself But assumption is not a strategy. Ronnie emphasizes that stakeholder management means actively participating in shaping how your work, value, and priorities are understood — rather than leaving it to chance. The Four Pillars of Stakeholder Management ✍🏾 Ronnie introduces a practical framework built on four elements: Anticipation Understanding what your stakeholders care about before they have to say it. Communication Sharing information in ways that are useful to them, not just you. Translation Framing your work in language that resonates with their priorities. Consistency Showing up in predictable, reliable ways over time. These four elements create clarity, trust, and momentum. Not All Stakeholders Care About the Same Things A key insight from the episode: stakeholders optimize for different outcomes. For example: A manager may care about execution and morale A skip-level leader may care about risk and alignment One client may prioritize speed, another results One partner may value collaboration, another optics Treating every stakeholder the same often creates friction. Managing relationships well requires understanding what each person is measured on and worried about. How to Understand What Your Stakeholders Care About Ronnie offers seven diagnostic questions to help you gain clarity: What pressure are they under? What are they being measured on? What keeps them up at night? What do they need to feel successful? What does success look like from their perspective? How does your work help solve their problem? How does your contribution make their job easier or their goals more achievable? When you can answer these, you can manage relationships strategically — not transactionally. Say vs. Show: Managing Perception Stakeholders don't experience your intentions — they experience patterns. This episode revisits the idea of closing the gap between: What you say you are What stakeholders actually experience from you Visibility here isn't about noise. It's about intentional surfacing of: Wins Progress Challenges Context that needs translation What gets shown consistently is what gets trusted. When Stakeholders Are Misaligned or Difficult Ronnie addresses a reality many listeners face: Conflicting priorities between stakeholders Unclear or inconsistent leadership Relationships that create ongoing friction The guidance: Name what's true without dramatizing it Focus on what you can influence (communication, framing, boundaries) Adjust strategy without abandoning yourself Recognize when a relationship may no longer be worth the energy it requires Not every stakeholder relationship is meant to be preserved at all costs. A Practical Stakeholder Audit 🤎 Ronnie closes the episode with a clear, actionable exercise: 1. Identify Your Stakeholders List anyone who influences your progress or provision. 2. Clarify What They Care About Note their priorities, pressures, and success metrics. 3. Identify Gaps Where are you unclear, inconsistent, or silent? 4. Choose One Small Shift One conversation, one update, one boundary — not an overhaul. Small adjustments compound. What This Episode Reinforces Stakeholder management is about protection, not performance Clarity reduces friction Advocacy builds provision Relationships compound over time You don't need to manage everyone — just the relationships that matter most What's Coming Next Tomorrow's episode tackles one of the hardest career decisions many people face: when to stay — and when to go. Links & Resources 🤎 📩 Join the OhHeyMonday Newsletter Weekly reflections, tools, and leadership guidance 👉🏾 www.ohheyjoin.com 📝 Ask OhHeyCoach Submit a question for a future episode 👉🏾 https://form.typeform.com/to/ja89DHpT 🤝 Work With OhHeyCoach Executive coaching, leadership development, and career design 👉🏾 www.ohheycoach.com 📬 Contact info@ohheycoach.com Final Thought 🤎 This is grown-folks career stewardship. I'll see you tomorrow.

    18 min
  3. 91. Negotiation as Self-Advocacy

    2D AGO

    91. Negotiation as Self-Advocacy

    Episode 91: Negotiation as Self-Advocacy The Career Clinic Podcast Host: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart Episode Overview Welcome to Week Four — the final week — of The Career Clinic Podcast January Intensive Series. This week centers on designing your career and life on purpose, and in Episode 91, Ronnie reframes negotiation as something far bigger than salary discussions or offer letters. This episode positions negotiation as self-advocacy — a posture and practice that helps create provision and margin across your work and life. Whether you're staying put, stepping up, or preparing for what's next, negotiation is about shaping the conditions that allow you to succeed and sustain yourself over time. Negotiation isn't about winning. It's about aligning the terms of engagement with the life you're trying to live. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ Why negotiation is about more than compensation ✔️ The difference between negotiating outcomes vs. negotiating conditions ✔️ How provision and margin protect against burnout and resentment ✔️ Common negotiation moments people miss entirely ✔️ Why half-negotiating often leads to overwhelm later ✔️ How to prepare for negotiation conversations with clarity and confidence ✔️ How to frame negotiations as alignment, not demands The Core Reframe: Negotiation Creates Provision and Margin Ronnie introduces two key concepts that ground this episode: Provision The resources, support, authority, and clarity you need to do your work well and live well — including team size, budget, tools, access, decision-making power, and fair compensation. Margin The breathing room that makes work sustainable — flexibility, boundaries, time, rest, and space to think strategically instead of constantly reacting. Negotiation is how you actively shape both. Where Most People Stop Too Soon This episode names a common pattern: people negotiate the number, but not the conditions. Examples include: Negotiating salary but not team size or resources Accepting a promotion without clarifying decision authority Getting a raise without discussing the path forward Absorbing additional scope without resetting expectations Working unsustainable hours without renegotiating boundaries The result is often short-term wins followed by long-term strain. Missed Negotiation Moments to Watch For ✍🏾 Ronnie walks through several moments that are actually invitations to negotiate: Promotions or role expansions Strong performance reviews Increased scope or absorbed work Projects that fail due to structural gaps Unsustainable workloads or expectations Negotiation doesn't only happen at offer stage — it happens whenever the terms of engagement change. How to Prepare for Negotiation Conversations Ronnie offers a practical, repeatable approach: 1. Get Clear on What You're Asking For — and Why Know what success requires in real terms. 2. Invite the Conversation Use language that signals alignment and gives space to prepare. 3. Frame for Mutual Success Position the conversation around outcomes and sustainability, not demands. 4. Bring Context and Data Decision-makers don't always see what you see — help them understand. 5. Get Curious About Pushback Curiosity creates collaboration and better outcomes. 6. Offer Options, Not Just Problems Solutions invite partnership. What This Episode Is — and Isn't This episode is not about: Negotiating for sport Being adversarial Pushing without context It is about: Advocating for yourself clearly Designing conditions that support long-term success Treating negotiation as a leadership skill Understanding that the terms you accept shape the life you live This Week's Reflection 🤎 Identify one upcoming moment where a negotiation is needed — a review, role change, scope shift, or workload concern. Ask yourself: What do I need to succeed here? What conditions would make this sustainable? How can I frame this as alignment? That's the work. What's Coming Next The next episode continues this thread with a focus on stakeholder management — and how to build partnerships that support your success instead of leaving you to carry everything alone. Links & Resources 🤎 📩 Join the OhHeyMonday Newsletter Weekly reflections, tools, and leadership guidance 👉🏾 www.ohheyjoin.com 📝 Ask OhHeyCoach Submit a question for a future episode 👉🏾 https://form.typeform.com/to/ja89DHpT 🤝 Work With OhHeyCoach Executive coaching, leadership development, and career design 👉🏾 www.ohheycoach.com 📬 Contact info@ohheycoach.com Final Thought 🤎 Negotiation isn't about asking for more. It's about asking for what makes success possible. The terms you accept today shape the life you live tomorrow. I'll see you in the next episode

    26 min
  4. 90. Stop Waiting For Permission

    3D AGO

    90. Stop Waiting For Permission

    Episode 90: Stop Waiting for Permission The Career Clinic Podcast Host: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart Episode Overview Welcome to Week Four — the final week — of The Career Clinic Podcast January Intensive Series. This week brings together the core themes of the series: agency, design, decision-making, and forward movement. In Episode 90, Ronnie names a pattern she sees repeatedly among capable, accomplished people: waiting for permission. Permission to apply. Permission to pivot. Permission to leave. Permission to want something different than what once made sense. This episode is a grounded conversation about reclaiming agency, understanding the cost of waiting, and learning how to move forward with intention — even when certainty isn't available. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ Why permission rarely arrives — especially later in your career ✔️ How "being prudent" quietly turns into self-delay ✔️ The difference between strategic patience and stalled movement ✔️ Why certainty almost never comes before action ✔️ How external validation slowly erodes leverage ✔️ What it looks like to design your next chapter on purpose Why We Wait for Permission Ronnie breaks down common reasons people get stuck waiting: Wanting certainty before moving Seeking validation from others Believing there is a "right" way to want success Fear of undoing credibility already earned Feeling bound to past decisions At a certain point, waiting stops being thoughtful — and starts limiting momentum. The Real Cost of Waiting This episode names what waiting often costs: Time Time spent waiting is time not spent building toward what matters now. Opportunity Movement creates learning. Waiting delays it. Leverage The longer you wait, the more approval starts to matter. Agency Over time, waiting teaches you to defer your own judgment — and that's hard to reverse. A Personal Story on Self-Permission Ronnie shares her own experience leaving a successful corporate career to build OhHeyCoach — not impulsively, but intentionally. She talks through: How long the decision took Why permission never came What planning actually looked like Why clarity followed action, not the other way around The takeaway is practical: permission is something you give yourself — after thought, reflection, and design. How to Stop Waiting and Start Designing ✍🏾 1. Name the Permission You're Waiting For Be specific. Vague waiting is harder to move through. 2. Ask: "What Would I Do If I Already Had Permission?" This question surfaces clarity quickly. 3. Design the Thing You're Waiting On Draft the role, the pivot, the next chapter — even if it's rough. 4. Identify the First Two Steps Not the full plan. Just the next right moves. What This Episode Is — and Isn't This is not a call to be reckless or impulsive. It is a reminder that: Thoughtful decisions don't require unanimous approval Readiness often follows movement You are allowed to evolve beyond old definitions What's Coming Next The next episode continues this theme with a focus on negotiation as self-advocacy — reframing negotiation as a life skill, not just a workplace tactic. Links & Resources 🤎 📩 Join the OhHeyMonday Newsletter Weekly reflections, tools, and leadership guidance 👉🏾 www.ohheyjoin.com 📝 Ask OhHeyCoach Submit a question for a future episode 👉🏾 https://form.typeform.com/to/ja89DHpT 🤝 Work With OhHeyCoach Executive coaching, leadership development, and career design 👉🏾 www.ohheycoach.com 📬 Contact info@ohheycoach.com Final Thought 🤎 You don't need permission to think clearly, plan thoughtfully, or move forward with intention. You are allowed to decide — and design — what's next. I'll see you in the next episode. 🤎

    26 min
  5. 89. Introversion, Rebuilding Networks & Awkward Moments | Ask OhHeyCoach

    6D AGO

    89. Introversion, Rebuilding Networks & Awkward Moments | Ask OhHeyCoach

    *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "34fd0a57-4d71-44c4-ba91-f84639bc1f98" data-testid= "conversation-turn-84" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 89: Introversion, Rebuilding Networks & Awkward Moments | Ask OhHeyCoach The Career Clinic Podcast Host: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart Episode Overview Welcome to Ask OhHeyCoach Friday during Week Three of The Career Clinic Podcast January Intensive Series. In Episode 88, Ronnie responds to listener-submitted questions that get very real about networking fatigue, introversion, rebuilding dormant relationships, and the awkwardness that often comes with reconnecting — especially after long periods of silence. This episode builds directly on the week's themes of voice, visibility, connection, and provision, offering grounded coaching for listeners who want to stay connected without forcing themselves into spaces, behaviors, or strategies that don't fit who they are. This Week's Coaching Focus This Ask OhHeyCoach episode centers on: Rebuilding relationships after time and distance Navigating networking as an introverted or energy-protective person Releasing guilt, apology loops, and transactional pressure Understanding networking as a long-term practice, not a crisis response Creating provision through consistency, generosity, and proximity Listener Questions Answered in This Episode 1. "How do I reconnect with someone after years of silence without it feeling awkward or transactional?" Ronnie reframes awkwardness as a natural gap — not a failure — and encourages listeners to lead with honesty, specificity, and humanity instead of apologies or immediate asks. Reconnection doesn't require justification; it requires presence. 2. "I'm introverted, and networking events drain me. How do I build a strong network without forcing myself into spaces that don't work for me?" This response dismantles the myth that networking must be loud, extroverted, or performative. Ronnie shares why many introverts are exceptional network builders — through depth, intentionality, small groups, asynchronous connection, and even creating their own spaces. 3. "What if I realize I've been 'not working' instead of networking for years and my network has gone cold? Is it too late to build provision now?" Ronnie answers this question with clarity and compassion: it's never too late — but it does take time. She encourages listeners to start with proximity, rebuild trust through generosity and consistency, and remember that most people are more forgiving than we imagine. Key Coaching Takeaways ✍🏾 ✔️ Awkwardness is not a stop sign — it's a transition point ✔️ You don't need to apologize for silence to reconnect ✔️ Introversion is not a networking disadvantage ✔️ Depth beats volume every time ✔️ Provision is built through relationships tended over time ✔️ Generosity and goodwill rebuild trust faster than urgency Reframing Networking Throughout the episode, Ronnie reframes networking as: Connection, not collection Stewardship, not extraction Consistency, not intensity Networking doesn't require a personality change. It requires alignment with how you best build and sustain relationships. This Week's Invitation ✨ Choose one small action: Reach out to one person you've been thinking about Send a note with no agenda Re-engage a relationship with honesty and warmth Offer support, insight, or generosity without expectation Connection compounds when practiced consistently. What's Ahead Next week, we enter the final week of the January Intensive, focused on designing on purpose — including negotiation, decision-making, provision, and knowing when to stay, grow, or pivot from a place of strength rather than desperation. Links & Resources 🤎 📝 Ask OhHeyCoach: Have a question you'd like answered on a future episode? Submit it here: 👉🏾 https://form.typeform.com/to/ja89DHpT 📩 Join the OhHeyMonday Newsletter: Weekly reflections, tools, and grounded leadership guidance. 👉🏾 www.ohheyjoin.com 🤝 Work With Ronnie / OhHeyCoach: Executive coaching, leadership development, and career design. 👉🏾 www.ohheycoach.com 📬 Contact: info@ohheycoach.com Final Thought ✨ Network in ways that honor who you are — and tend the relationships that already matter. Thank you for your questions, your honesty, and for staying in the work. I'll see you Monday for our final week. 🤎

    14 min
  6. 88. Networking vs. Not Working

    JAN 23

    88. Networking vs. Not Working

    Episode 88: Networking vs. Not Working The Career Clinic Podcast Host: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart Episode Overview Welcome to Week Three of The Career Clinic Podcast January Intensive Series. In Episode 88, we take on a word that makes a lot of capable, thoughtful people tense up: networking. This episode reframes networking not as performative relationship-building or forced small talk, but as proximity, intention, and stewardship of relationships. Ronnie names why opting out of networking may feel safe or principled — yet at a certain point in your career, it quietly limits momentum, access, and provision. This is a grounded, honest conversation about how opportunity actually moves — and why tending relationships before you need them matters more than ever in today's shifting professional landscape. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ Why "opting out" of networking is no longer a neutral posture ✔️ The difference between networking and not working ✔️ How most opportunities actually come to fruition ✔️ Why proximity matters more than volume ✔️ The role relationships play in provision, protection, and momentum ✔️ How to activate the network you already have ✔️ Why networking isn't a crisis response — it's a practice The Core Truth: Opportunity Moves Through People Ronnie shares a powerful personal reflection: across her entire career, nearly every meaningful role, promotion, and opportunity came through relationships — not applications. Not because of strategy or hustle, but because of: Proximity Conversations Reputation People saying her name when she wasn't in the room This episode makes clear: your network doesn't just carry you when things are good — it carries you when things shift. Networking vs. Not Working ✍🏾 Ronnie defines not working as: Waiting to be remembered Assuming people still know what you do Believing past work will speak on your behalf indefinitely Telling yourself, "If it's meant for me, it'll come" Staying silent to avoid discomfort While understandable, this posture often leads to stalled momentum — especially as industries restructure, roles compress, and access becomes more relational than procedural. The Data Backs This Up 📊 Ronnie references compelling research that confirms what many have experienced firsthand: Up to 85% of jobs are filled through networking Roughly 70% of roles are never publicly posted Employee referrals account for 30–50% of hires Most opportunities are filled through personal and professional connections This episode isn't motivational — it's realistic. Proximity vs. Periphery: A Critical Distinction Ronnie introduces a key framework: Proximate Network People who know your work, character, and receipts. They're more likely to advocate, protect, and connect you. Peripheral Network More distant connections, future collaborators, or lapsed relationships. These often require more intentional nurturing. The insight: most people try to go wide when they actually need to go deeper. Immediate leverage lives in proximity. Future leverage lives in the periphery. Networking as a Stakeholder Ecosystem This episode reframes networking as stakeholder management, not card-collecting. A stakeholder is anyone who: Impacts your work or outcomes Is impacted by your decisions Holds influence or power in your ecosystem Ronnie explains how mapping stakeholders by interest and influence helps you: Focus your energy Reduce overwhelm Be strategic without being transactional Stop feeling guilty about not "keeping up with everyone" Always Be Connecting (ABC) Ronnie introduces her ABC principle — not "always be closing," but: Always Be Connecting Connection can look like: Sharing insight or gratitude Mentoring or advocating Offering support or introductions Showing up consistently Being present and memorable Influence is built through frequency, integrity, and relevance — not volume or noise. Three Actions to Take This Week ✨ 1. Reach Out to Someone Proximate Send a text, email, or voice note with no agenda. "Thinking about you. How are you?" is enough. 2. List Your Key Stakeholders Name five people who matter most to your current work or next move. Write down how you're actively tending those relationships. 3. Practice Goodwill Make one introduction. Advocate for someone not in the room. Share an opportunity — without keeping score. These small acts compound into real provision over time. What Gets in the Way — and How to Move Through It Most people don't struggle with networking because they don't care. They struggle because of: Overwhelm Lack of planning Waiting until crisis The invitation here is simple: build consistently, before you need it. Looking Ahead Tomorrow is Ask OhHeyCoach Friday, where Ronnie responds directly to listener questions from this week and beyond. If this episode stirred something for you — you're not alone. Links & Resources 🤎 📝 Ask OhHeyCoach: Submit your questions for a future episode: 👉🏾 https://form.typeform.com/to/ja89DHpT 📩 Join the OhHeyMonday Newsletter: Weekly reflections, tools, and grounded leadership guidance. 👉🏾 www.ohheyjoin.com 🤝 Work With Ronnie / OhHeyCoach: Executive coaching, leadership development, and career design. 👉🏾 www.ohheycoach.com 📬 Contact: info@ohheycoach.com Final Thought ✨ Networking isn't about collecting people. It's about cultivating relationships. You don't need to overhaul everything. You just need to stay connected to the people who matter. You're not doing this alone. I'll see you tomorrow. 🤎

    29 min
  7. 87. Executive-Level Visibility

    JAN 21

    87. Executive-Level Visibility

    Episode 87: Executive-Level Visibility The Career Clinic Podcast Host: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart Episode Overview Welcome to Week Three of The Career Clinic Podcast January Intensive Series. In Episode 87, we continue this week's focus on voice, visibility, and connection by going deeper into what Ronnie calls Executive-Level Visibility — the kind of visibility that creates provision, optionality, and stability in an increasingly uncertain and shifting professional landscape. This episode reframes visibility as more than posting online or being "seen." Ronnie explores visibility as a strategic asset — one that ensures your name is in the room (even when you aren't), your value is understood by decision-makers, and your career currency remains spendable through transitions, restructures, and market shifts. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ Why your work has never truly "spoken for itself" — and what actually does ✔️ The difference between default visibility and designed visibility ✔️ Why visibility is a form of career provision and protection ✔️ How internal and external visibility work together ✔️ What career currency is — and how visibility makes it usable ✔️ The real reasons high-performing leaders avoid visibility ✔️ Practical steps to intentionally curate executive-level visibility The Core Truth: Visibility Creates Provision Ronnie introduces a powerful reframe: visibility is not about attention — it's about access. Access to: Opportunities you didn't know existed Advocacy when you're not in the room Agency to choose what's next instead of waiting to be chosen Protection during restructures, freezes, or leadership compression In today's hybrid, distributed, and increasingly parasocial work environment, decisions about your career are often made by people who don't interact with you regularly — if at all. Visibility ensures your impact is understood beyond proximity. Default vs. Designed Visibility This episode introduces a critical distinction: Default Visibility Based on title, tenure, company brand, or proximity Passive and circumstantial Fragile during disruption Designed Visibility Intentional, strategic, and aligned with your goals Curated by you Sustainable through change, transition, and market shifts Ronnie challenges listeners to ask honestly: Am I visible by default — or am I designing my visibility? Internal Visibility: The Often-Missed Lever Many leaders assume internal visibility will "take care of itself." This episode names why that's risky. Internal visibility includes: Being known by skip-level and senior leaders Cross-functional partners understanding your strategic value Decision-makers being able to articulate why your work matters Ronnie explains how leaders can be beloved by their teams yet invisible three levels up — and why that gap often shows up during promotions, restructures, and succession conversations. External Visibility: Creating Options Beyond Your Role External visibility ensures opportunity is not dependent on your current employer. This includes: Industry reputation Recruiters, boards, and partners knowing your name Being associated with a point of view or expertise Creating mobility, leverage, and choice The magic isn't either/or — it's both internal and external visibility working together. Career Currency & Why Visibility Makes It Spendable Ronnie introduces the concept of career currency — the trust, expertise, results, relationships, and impact you've been building for years. The key insight: Currency only has value if people know you have it. Without visibility: Your expertise can't be converted Your impact remains invisible Your receipts go unused Visibility is what makes your currency spendable. Why Visibility Feels Hard (and How to Reframe It) Ronnie names the most common blockers: It feels self-promotional You're too busy doing the work to talk about the work You don't know where to start or what to say Social platforms feel performative or inauthentic The reframe: visibility isn't about ego — it's about stewardship. Stewardship of your work, your people, your ideas, and your future. A Practical Visibility Framework 📝 1. Audit Your Current Visibility Who knows you? Who knows what you do? Where are the gaps? 2. Define What Visibility Needs to Get You Promotion? Mobility? Protection? Options? Clarity here drives strategy. 3. Build Internal Visibility Intentionally Get in front of decision-makers Translate work into business impact Cultivate skip-level relationships Use internal channels thoughtfully Document and share wins strategically 4. Build External Visibility Selectively Choose a reach/frequency model that fits your goals and capacity. One platform. One practice. Consistency over volume. 5. Make Visibility Routine, Not a Project Small, weekly actions compound. Systems create sustainability. This Week's Invitation Choose one: Connect with one internal stakeholder Share one insight publicly Raise your hand for one opportunity Do not overthink it. Do not wait for perfect timing. Looking Ahead Tomorrow's episode continues Week Three with a conversation on Networking vs. Not Working — and why many leaders unintentionally limit opportunity through how they network. Links & Resources 🤎 📝 Ask OhHeyCoach: Submit questions on visibility, networking, or leadership for future episodes: 👉🏾 https://form.typeform.com/to/ja89DHpT 📩 Join the OhHeyMonday Newsletter: Weekly insights, tools, and grounded leadership guidance. 👉🏾 www.ohheyjoin.com 🤝 Work With Ronnie / OhHeyCoach: Executive coaching, leadership development, and career design. 👉🏾 www.ohheycoach.com 📬 Contact: info@ohheycoach.com Final Thought ✨ Visibility isn't about being louder. It's about ensuring your impact is known, valued, and protected. You've earned your currency. Now make it usable. I'll see you tomorrow. 🤎

    36 min
  8. 86. Your Voice: Your Most Important Asset

    JAN 20

    86. Your Voice: Your Most Important Asset

    Episode 86: Your Voice: Your Most Important Asset The Career Clinic Podcast Host: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart Episode Overview Welcome to Week Three of The Career Clinic Podcast January Intensive Series. This week, we shift our focus to voice, visibility, community, and connection — starting with the foundation of it all: your voice. In Episode 86, Ronnie leads a direct, honest conversation about why your voice — both literal and figurative — is one of your most important professional and personal assets. Many high-performing leaders are skilled at using their voices on behalf of organizations, teams, and clients, yet hesitate when it comes to advocating for themselves, sharing their expertise, or naming what they want and deserve. Your voice is not a soft skill. It is a strategic asset — one that creates opportunity, alignment, provision, and choice over time. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ What it really means to use your voice beyond "speaking up" ✔️ Why leaders often underuse their voice on their own behalf ✔️ How institutional roles can unintentionally mute self-expression ✔️ The cost of silence in your career and life ✔️ Why expertise without voice leads to invisibility ✔️ How voice creates leverage, visibility, and optionality The Core Idea: Your Voice Creates Opportunity This episode makes one thing clear: your voice is how opportunity finds you. Ronnie reflects on her own career journey — from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship — and names a powerful truth: the same skills that help you rise inside institutions are the skills that create possibility when you step outside of them. When the institutional veil disappears, what remains is you — your perspective, your experience, your point of view. Learning to use your voice without hiding behind a brand, title, or role becomes essential. Your voice is how you: Identify problems and advance solutions Advocate for scope, compensation, and resources Share earned expertise Create new roles and pathways Build credibility and long-term visibility When Your Voice Goes Quiet ✍🏾 Ronnie names a hard truth with care: silence has a cost. When you don't use your voice, you may: Stay invisible Remain in roles that no longer fit Be overlooked or under-resourced Miss opportunities you are fully qualified for In a moment where generic content is everywhere, earned perspective and lived expertise matter more than ever. A Provocation to Sit With Why are you acting like you're new to this — when you're true to this? This episode invites listeners to examine how they may be: Waiting for permission to speak Softening expertise to avoid standing out Deferring to louder voices with less experience Playing smaller than their actual capacity You don't need permission to name what you know. The Voice Audit 📝 Ronnie offers a simple reflection exercise: Where am I holding back my voice or expertise? What is it costing me — personally or professionally? What might change if I used my voice more fully? The goal isn't performance. It's awareness. Looking Ahead Tomorrow's episode builds on this foundation as we move into visibility — specifically, how leaders build visibility that supports provision, opportunity, and sustainability. Voice comes first. Visibility ensures it reaches the right places. Links & Resources 🤎 📝 Ask OhHeyCoach: Have a question you'd like answered on a future episode? Submit it here: 👉🏾 https://form.typeform.com/to/ja89DHpT 📩 Join the OhHeyMonday Newsletter: Weekly reflections, tools, and grounded leadership guidance. 👉🏾 www.ohheyjoin.com 🤝 Work With Ronnie / OhHeyCoach: Executive coaching, leadership development, and career design. 👉🏾 www.ohheycoach.com 📬 Contact: info@ohheycoach.com Final Thought ✨ You are not new to this. You are true to this. Your voice has already carried you far — and it will carry you forward, if you let it. I'll see you tomorrow. 🤎

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About

I'm so excited to introduce The Career Clinic, powered by OhHeyCoach, with your host, me, Ronnie Dickerson Stewart! I've coached & consulted with countless individuals from interns to C-suite leaders on how to navigate their stickiest career moments. In this clinic and in the time we get to share, I hope to do the same with you! Whether you're in the "staying, growing or going" stage, on this podcast, no career topic is off the table. Truth Moment: Everyone does not have equal access to executive coaching and career advancement resources. I believe everyone should be able to access tools to chart a successful career path that uniquely serves them. So YOU can think of me as a coach, consultant, or mentor who is one click and download away. Welcome to The Career Clinic Podcast (powered by OhHeyCoach), I can't wait to see how we learn and grow together!

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