We Are Women Unapologetically

Jessica Cumming
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Created for women who are: Pivoting careers or reinventing themselves Balancing care for both kids and aging parents Navigating professional shifts - from layoffs to promotions Ready to write their next chapter, authentically and boldly Why this podcast? Because I've been there - juggling career pivots, family demands, and personal reinvention. And I know you have too. What to expect: Honest conversations about real challenges and victories Stories from women who've turned obstacles into opportunities Practical strategies for navigating change with confidence

  1. 1d ago

    Advocate for Yourself in Healthcare: Patient Communication and Stem Cell Recovery with Dana Sherwin

    In this episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically, Jessica Cumming sits down with Dana Sherwin, healthcare consultant, speaker, and stem cell transplant survivor, for a powerful conversation about patient advocacy, healthcare communication, and learning how to take an active role in your own care.Dana shares her journey from healthcare leadership to navigating a blood cancer disorder, preparing for a stem cell transplant, and discovering a renewed purpose in helping people communicate more effectively with doctors. This conversation explores why so many patients feel unprepared for medical appointments, how to ask better questions, and why understanding your body and health history matters before a diagnosis changes everything. Key takeaways from this episode: • Why patient advocacy starts before you are seriously ill • How to prepare for doctor’s appointments with better questions • Why knowing your symptoms, health history, and body matters • How healthcare communication can impact diagnosis, treatment, and confidence • What Dana’s stem cell transplant recovery taught her about purpose, resilience, and self-advocacy • Why being curious and taking care of yourself may be one of the most powerful health decisions you make. Connect with Dana SherwinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desherwin/ Website: TheThinkingPatient.com Connect with Jessica Cumming LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicacumming04/ Website: jcnewbeginnings.com

    38 min

  2. May 20

    The Manager Aftershock: Leadership Burnout During Reorgs Nobody Talks About (Part 4)

    Reorgs don’t just impact teams.They impact the managers trying to hold everything together. In Part 4 of this leadership mini-series, Jessica Cumming dives into the emotional and operational reality managers face after organizational change. The pressure to keep morale up, maintain productivity, answer impossible questions, and absorb the fallout without falling apart yourself. This episode explores:• Leadership burnout during reorgs• The hidden weight middle managers carry• How to lead with humanity without becoming the emotional dumping ground• Why managers end up over-functioning or emotionally disengaging• The downstream impact of layoffs, restructuring, and cost-cutting decisions• Communication strategies for leading teams through uncertainty• How to protect your energy while still protecting your people Jessica also shares personal stories from her leadership experience at Dell Technologies, including global team transitions, organizational restructuring, and what happens when leadership decisions create ripple effects teams are forced to absorb long after the announcement is over. If you’ve ever felt emotionally exhausted trying to lead through instability while pretending everything is “business as usual,” this conversation is for you. Because leadership during a reorg isn’t just about keeping work moving.It’s about staying human while everything around you changes. 🎧 Listen now and share with a leader who needs this reminder. Connect on LinkedIn

    12 min

  3. May 13

    The First 30 Days After a Reorg: How Leaders Rebuild Teams, Trust and Execution (Part 3)

    The announcement is over.The org chart is updated.But this is the phase leaders almost never get coached on.Thirty days after a reorg is when the real operational problems start showing up.Priorities get blurry. Decision-making slows down. Meetings multiply. Teams hesitate. And underneath all of it is one question nobody wants to say out loud:“Okay… now what?”In Part 3 of this 4-part leadership series, Jessica Cumming breaks down what actually happens after organizational change and why so many teams struggle to regain momentum after a corporate reorg.Drawing from nearly 20 years leading through constant restructuring at Dell Technologies, Jessica shares a practical leadership playbook for rebuilding clarity, restoring ownership, and helping teams execute again without burning people out in the process.This episode covers:• The hidden leadership mistakes that stall teams after a reorg• Why “ownership fog” quietly destroys execution• How priority drift creates burnout and confusion• The operational trust leaders must rebuild after change• A practical framework for decision ownership and accountability• How to reduce meeting overload and decision paralysis• What leaders should communicate in the first 30 days after restructuring• How to restore confidence without fake positivity or corporate spinIf you’re leading through layoffs, restructuring, mergers, leadership turnover, or organizational change, this episode gives you practical strategies to stabilize your team and move forward with clarity and direction.Listen now and come back for Part 4, where the focus shifts to the leaders themselves and the emotional weight of carrying teams through constant change.Clarity in 10: https://www.jcnewbeginnings.com/clarity-in-10 Connect with Jessica on LinkedinBook Jessica to Speak

    20 min

  4. May 6

    How to Lead During a Reorg Announcement: What to Say, Do, and Prioritize (Part 2)

    Announcement week isn’t the whole reorg.It’s the spike.This is where everything intensifies.Questions increase.Rumors spread.Work either stalls or explodes into activity that looks productive but isn’t.And your team is looking to you for direction… while you’re still waiting for answers yourself.This is the moment most leaders get wrong.They either freeze and wait.Or they overwork and create more noise.Neither creates stability.In this episode, I break down exactly how to lead during announcement week so your team stays focused, work keeps moving, and you don’t burn yourself out trying to hold everything together.We’re talking what to actually do this week.How to communicate when you don’t have clean answersHow to reduce rumor cycles without shutting people downHow to set clear priorities so your team knows what mattersWhen to pause work and protect qualityHow to stop becoming the unofficial crisis hotlineBecause your team doesn’t need you to be perfect.They need you to be steady.This is Part 2 of the reorg leadership series.Part 1 covers what happens before the announcement and how to lead through the uncertainty leading up to it.If you’re in the middle of this right now, this episode will meet you there.Key TakeawaysWhy announcement week creates a spike in stress, noise, and decision pressureThe difference between productive work and anxiety-driven activityHow to reset priorities so your team doesn’t scatterWhat to say when people ask questions you can’t fully answer yetHow to protect your team’s time, focus, and energyA practical playbook to lead through this week without losing controlHow to ConnectIf this episode hit, share it with someone navigating a reorg right now.If you need a fast reset, download the Clarity in 10™ tool to get focused in minutes.If you’re leading through this and want support specific to your situation, book a clarity call with me. We’ll map out exactly how to lead through it without burning out.Connect with me on LinkedIn: ⁠JessicaCumming⁠04Explore coaching and speaking: www.⁠JCNew Beginnings.com⁠

    13 min

  5. Apr 29

    How to Lead When Leadership Goes Silent: Navigating Uncertainty Before a Reorg (Part 1)

    Something shifts before a reorg is ever announced. Meetings move. Priorities change. Conversations happen without context. And the people who usually have answers stop sharing them. This is the phase most leaders and managers struggle with, because you’re still expected to deliver, keep your team focused, and answer questions you don’t have answers to. In this episode, I break down how to lead during that exact moment. Not after the announcement. Not once everything is clear. But while things are still uncertain. I walk through what’s actually happening behind the scenes, why leadership often goes quiet, and how that silence impacts your team’s confidence, focus, and performance. More importantly, I give you a clear way to operate so you’re not stuck reacting, over-explaining, or second-guessing every decision. If you’re the one people are looking to right now, this will help you create direction without pretending you have all the answers. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.Part 2 will focus on how to lead during announcement week and what to do in the first few days once everything becomes public. Key Takeaways How to recognize the early signals of a reorg before it’s announcedWhy leadership goes quiet and what that usually means behind the scenesThe impact uncertainty has on team behavior, trust, and productivityHow to communicate clearly when you don’t have full informationThe difference between trying to sound confident and actually creating stabilityA simple 72-hour reset to help your team regain focus and directionThis episode is for you if you’re: Leading a team or influencing outcomes, even without the titleNoticing changes but getting little to no communicationBeing asked to keep work moving without clear prioritiesTired of overthinking decisions and want a more grounded way to leadIf this episode hit, share it with someone who’s navigating the same situation. If you’re looking to strengthen how you make decisions, communicate in high-stakes moments, and lead without second-guessing, this is the work I do with leaders and organizations every day. How to Connect Connect with me on LinkedIn: Jessica CummingExplore coaching Explore speaking

    18 min

  6. Apr 22

    Why You Don’t Trust Yourself: Imposter Syndrome, People Pleasing and Self-Doubt with Elaine Belson

    Why don’t you trust yourself… even when you know what to do?In this episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically, Jessica Cumming sits down with psychotherapist, speaker, and mindset coach Elaine Belson to unpack the real reason so many high-achieving professionals struggle with imposter syndrome, people pleasing, and self-doubt.This isn’t about a lack of confidence.It’s about a breakdown in self-trust.And when you don’t trust yourself, you hesitate.You overthink.You delay decisions you already know need to be made.With over 30 years of experience, Elaine shares the psychology behind these patterns and what it actually takes to shift them—so you can stop second-guessing and start leading yourself with clarity.In this episode, we discuss:Why imposter syndrome doesn’t go away with successHow people pleasing quietly weakens your voice and authorityThe real cost of perfectionism in your career and decisionsThe difference between perception and intent in communicationHow emotional intelligence shapes your choices and reactionsWhy you already have the answers—and what’s stopping you from trusting themWhat therapy and coaching actually do (and when to consider each)If you’ve ever stayed quiet when you should have spoken up, delayed a decision that mattered, or questioned yourself in moments when you needed clarity—this conversation will challenge the way you think.Because the issue isn’t capability.It’s whether or not you trust yourself enough to act on it.Connect with Elaine Belson:Visit http://www.DitchYourInnerBully.com for tools to help you stop being hard on yourself and start trusting your decisions.Ready to reconnect with your clarity?Download the Clarity in 10™ Reset https://www.jcnewbeginnings.com/clarity-in-10If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it and follow the podcast so you don’t miss what’s next.Because shifts happens, but you don’t have to do it alone.

    49 min

  7. Apr 8

    How to Pivot Your Career| Women in Tech & Reinvention with Gloria Bell

    Episode Summary Thinking about a career pivot but not sure what comes next? In this episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically, I sit down with Gloria Bell to talk about career transitions, women in tech, transferable skills, and what it really takes to reinvent yourself professionally. If you’re feeling stuck, burned out, or ready for your next chapter, this conversation will help you get clear on what you want and take the next step with intention. What We Talk About Gloria’s journey from a stable career into entrepreneurship and techWhat it really takes to pivot your career successfullyHow to identify and leverage your transferable skillsWhy networking is critical during career transitionsOvercoming imposter syndrome and self-doubtHow to know when it’s time to make a changeWhy reinvention is available at any stage of lifeKey Takeaways You don’t need to have everything figured out to take the first stepThe skills you already have are more valuable than you thinkCareer pivots require both courage and intentionClarity comes from action—not overthinkingThe right network can open doors you didn’t know existedConnect with Gloria:  gloria@startupleaders.orgLinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriabell/ Ready for Your Next Chapter? If you’re in a season of transition and feeling stuck or unclear on what’s next:. Connect with me on LinkedIn— https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicacumming04/ Download the Clarity in 10 ResetOr book a 1:1 clarity call to map out your next move

    54 min

  8. Apr 1

    Why Hard Work Isn’t Getting You Promoted (And What Actually Will)

    You’ve worked hard, delivered results, stayed loyal, and still somehow… you’re being overlooked. In Episode 20 of We Are Women Unapologetically, Jessica Cumming breaks down the truth so many high-achieving women learn too late: hard work alone will not get you promoted. At a certain level, performance is expected. What actually creates more opportunities is visibility, advocacy, sponsorship, and strategic relationships. If you’ve ever watched someone less qualified move ahead, felt stuck in the same role for too long, or wondered why your work isn’t speaking for itself anymore, this episode is for you. In this episode, we cover: Why hard work stops being enough for career growthWhat separates high performers from women who actually move upThe real difference between mentors, cheerleaders, and sponsorsWhy networking feels fake and how to make it feel naturalHow to communicate your impact clearly and confidentlyThe “impact brief” that helps people advocate for you in rooms you’re not inHow to build visibility without becoming someone you’re notThis episode is for women navigating career transitions, leadership growth, workplace visibility, confidence, and personal reinvention. Especially if you’re ready to stop waiting to be noticed and start getting clear on what’s next. Your Clarity in Action Reset: This week, identify one person with influence, access, or proximity to the kind of opportunity you want and send the message. Resources: Download the Clarity in 10 ResetIf this episode resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s been doing all the right things… and still feels invisible.

    19 min
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Created for women who are: Pivoting careers or reinventing themselves Balancing care for both kids and aging parents Navigating professional shifts - from layoffs to promotions Ready to write their next chapter, authentically and boldly Why this podcast? Because I've been there - juggling career pivots, family demands, and personal reinvention. And I know you have too. What to expect: Honest conversations about real challenges and victories Stories from women who've turned obstacles into opportunities Practical strategies for navigating change with confidence

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