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 the podcast for high-achieving women who refuse to leave their future to chance. Hosted by executive coach, bestselling author, speaker, and Human Capital Strategist Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, each episode explores leadership, career agency, personal growth, and the choices that shape our lives and careers. Through candid conversations with accomplished leaders, experts, and trailblazers, you'll gain practical insights to help you navigate change, strengthen confidence, build influence, and create meaningful momentum. At the heart of the show is a simple belief: success should not come at the expense of your well-being, purpose, or authenticity. Drawing on the principles behind Stop Drifting: The Discipline of Direction™, the 7-Minute Pivot™, and decades of executive leadership and coaching experience, Dr. Cynthia helps listeners recognize the patterns that pull them away from what matters most—and take intentional steps toward the future they want to create. Whether you're pursuing your next promotion, leading through uncertainty, exploring what's next in your career, or simply seeking greater alignment in your life, this podcast will equip you with practical tools and inspiring stories to help you move forward with intention. Because the goal isn't to do more. It's to move with purpose.

  1. 2d ago

    How to Advocate for Yourself at Work and Lead with Confidence

    In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with leadership coach and BAM Leadership founder Brandon Maslan for a powerful conversation about personal agency, self-advocacy, and what it really means to lead with courage. Brandon shares his journey from overcoming childhood bullying and self-doubt to becoming a trial attorney, executive coach, and passionate advocate for gender equity in the workplace. Together, he and Dr. Cynthia explore the internal narratives that hold professionals back, the importance of challenging your own limiting beliefs, and how authentic leadership begins with owning your voice. They also discuss why allyship is a behavior, not a title, how AI can help professionals better articulate their accomplishments, and why sometimes the most courageous career move is refusing to play small, even if it means being "spectacularly fired." Whether you're navigating self-doubt, advocating for yourself, or striving to become a better ally and leader, this episode offers practical insights and a powerful reminder: you're probably not as alone as you think. Sometimes leadership starts with being the first person willing to speak up. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

    59 min

  2. Jun 2

    The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You

    Most leaders believe they're good listeners. Few have ever been taught how to listen strategically. In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Christine Miles, Founder and CEO of The Listening Path and author of What Is It Costing You Not to Listen?, to explore why intentional listening may be one of the most overlooked leadership skills in business today. Together, they unpack the hidden costs of miscommunication, the "listening gap" that exists between what is said and what is understood, and why our natural tendency to fix problems often prevents us from truly hearing others. Christine shares her practical Compass Framework, a six-question approach designed to uncover the story beneath the surface, along with her powerful Flashlight Technique for building trust, influence, and understanding. You'll learn: • Why listening is a competitive advantage for leaders • How closeness bias limits curiosity and decision-making • The difference between listening and advising • How intentional listening helps both introverts and extroverts increase their influence • Ways to apply listening skills to your team, your relationships, and even yourself Whether you're leading an organization, managing a team, or looking to strengthen your own leadership presence, this conversation will challenge the way you think about communication and reveal why listening may be your most valuable professional superpower. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

    57 min

  3. May 26

    Your Resume Is Missing the Most Important Number

    Most women have been taught to negotiate with confidence. Cynthia Barnes says that's the wrong starting point. In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Cynthia Barnes, founder of the Black Women's Wealth Lab, to unpack the difference between the wage gap… and what Barnes calls the extraction gap. This conversation explores the hidden financial value women create inside organizations, why more education doesn't always lead to equitable compensation, and how women can begin documenting their true economic impact with hard data instead of assumptions. Barnes breaks down her "Value Audit" methodology, the forensic process used to calculate a professional's measurable contribution to a company, and explains why many women discover they've generated millions more in value than they were ever paid. Plus: one practical habit every professional should start immediately to build a paper trail of their impact, negotiation leverage, and long-term career protection. This episode will change the way you think about compensation, contribution, and your worth in the workplace. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

    43 min

  4. May 19

    Building Wealth Without Losing Yourself

    In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder without Breaking a Heel, Dr-Cynthia sits down with Mary Lyons, founder of WealthWoman, to discuss financial agency, abundance, and what it really means to build a life that feels aligned. Together, they unpack the pressure many high-achieving women feel to prove their success, the mindset shifts required to move from scarcity to abundance, and why wealth should be viewed as a tool for freedom rather than just a number on a spreadsheet. Mary also shares practical strategies for building long-term financial confidence, overcoming shame around money conversations, and defining success using your own scorecard instead of someone else's expectations. This episode is a reminder that your dream life is built through intentional decisions, not external validation. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

    1 hr

  5. May 12

    What It Really Takes to Earn a Seat at the Table

    In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Dr. Keith D. Dorsey, founder and CEO of Boardroom Journey, to unpack what it actually takes for women to intentionally position themselves for corporate board service. From early-career professionals to seasoned executives, this conversation breaks down the long game behind building influence, visibility, and strategic leadership capital. Dr. Dorsey introduces his framework of the Five Capitals that shape a successful boardroom journey: • Human Capital • Social Capital • Director Capital • Cultural Capital • Commitment Capital Together, they discuss why waiting until you "feel ready" is one of the biggest mistakes ambitious women make and how intentional career decisions today can shape opportunities decades down the road. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer   CONNECT WITH DR. KEITH D. DORSEY LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-keith-d-dorsey-798a2681

    54 min

  6. May 5

    Stop Fixing Women. Fix the System.

    What if the problem was never you? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Anna Blue, CEO of Blue Moss Group and creator of the Say She's Right movement, to challenge one of the most persistent narratives in leadership: that women need to be "fixed" to succeed. This conversation goes deeper than confidence tips and career advice. It pulls apart the systems that were never designed with women in mind and asks a better question: what actually needs to change? Anna reframes "imposter syndrome" as what it originally was—imposter phenomenon—a rational response to environments where belonging was never built in. From there, she and Dr. Cynthia unpack how organizations continue to reinforce bias through hiring, promotion, and performance practices that reward sameness over perspective. But this isn't just about systems. It's also about what happens in the room. The Say She's Right movement calls out a quieter dynamic: the moments where women support each other privately but stay silent publicly. Anna makes the case for something different—visible, vocal validation that shifts power in real time. They also get tactical: How to spot bias hiding in "normal" processes Why blind performance reviews matter The strategy of "counting votes" before you walk into the room And how to show up differently for other women without overthinking it This episode is equal parts truth and strategy. Because real change doesn't come from asking women to adapt better. It comes from changing the rules of the room.   CCL LISTENER SPECIAL  Join Dr-Cynthia on May 7 from 9 AM-10 AM CDT for 'From Drift to Direction: Your 90 Day Reset Starts Here'. Use code 'CCL' for $30 off your registration fee: https://www.dr-cynthia.com/store/p/from-drift-to-direction-your-90-day-reset-starts-here   Connect with Dr-Cynthia LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/  Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer  Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen  TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer quiet depletion, burnout in high achieving women, intentional leadership, personal growth for women, leadership mindset, breaking burnout cycle, self awareness, high performance habits, women in leadership, mindfulness at work

    55 min

  7. Apr 28

    Why High Performers Feel Exhausted + How to Break the Cycle

    What if your success is hiding your exhaustion? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with CEO, author, and speaker Pam Dwyer to unpack the concept of quiet depletion. It's a hidden state where high-performing women look successful on the outside but feel disconnected, exhausted, and stuck in unconscious patterns. Together, they explore how overworking, overgiving, and overachieving often stem from deeper patterns, and how small, intentional shifts can change everything. Pam shares powerful frameworks like "Delay the Binge" and the "Plus One Theory," helping you recognize the moment before autopilot takes over so you can choose differently. The conversation also dives into the power of the pause, showing how simple practices like breathwork and journaling can bring you back to clarity, control, and intentional leadership. You'll also hear: How past experiences shape high-performance patterns (and how to reframe them) Why curiosity is the key to personal growth A pivotal moment that forced Pam to listen to her body The difference between discipline and devotion (and why it matters) How to stop drifting and start becoming who you're meant to be If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right but still feel off, this episode will help you reconnect with yourself and lead from a place of intention, not exhaustion. CCL LISTENER SPECIAL  Join Dr-Cynthia on May 7 from 9 AM-10 AM CDT for 'From Drift to Direction: Your 90 Day Reset Starts Here'. Use code 'CCL' for $30 off your registration fee: https://www.dr-cynthia.com/store/p/from-drift-to-direction-your-90-day-reset-starts-here Connect with Dr-Cynthia LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/  Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer  Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen  TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer quiet depletion, burnout in high achieving women, intentional leadership, personal growth for women, leadership mindset, breaking burnout cycle, self awareness, high performance habits, women in leadership, mindfulness at work

    53 min

  8. Apr 21

    The Hidden Triggers Behind Your Leadership Style (and How to Rewire Them)

    CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains themes of references involving sexual assault that some viewers may find distressing. Please consider your comfort and well-being before listening to this week's episode.  In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Laurel Wiers to unpack something most professionals don't talk about, but absolutely experience: emotional triggers at work. Because sometimes… it's not the email. It's not the meeting. It's not even your boss. It's what your nervous system remembers. Laurel explains how past experiences—big or small, recent or decades old—can shape how we react, lead, and make decisions in our careers. From that unexpected wave of anxiety to reactions that feel bigger than the moment, these patterns often trace back further than we think. You'll also hear about Laurel's MINT Method (Memory Integration Narrative Transformation), a powerful approach that blends EMDR and somatic work to help individuals process and reframe stored emotional experiences. Dr. Cynthia connects this to her concept of "drift": those moments when you feel stuck, misaligned, or unsure why you're not moving forward the way you want to. In this episode, we cover: Why your body reacts before your brain can explain How unresolved experiences show up in leadership and feedback What it actually means when a reaction feels "too big" for the moment The connection between emotional triggers and feeling stuck in your career A practical framework for responding instead of reacting If you've ever walked away from a work situation thinking, "Why did I react like that?", this episode will give you language, clarity, and a path forward. SPECIAL DISCOUNT Join Dr-Cynthia for a 90-day reset on May 7 from 9 AM - 10 AM CDT. As a listener of CCL, use code 'CCL' to get $30 off. Reserve your seat now: dr-cynthia.com/store.

    45 min
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About

Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel is the podcast for high-achieving women who refuse to leave their future to chance. Hosted by executive coach, bestselling author, speaker, and Human Capital Strategist Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, each episode explores leadership, career agency, personal growth, and the choices that shape our lives and careers. Through candid conversations with accomplished leaders, experts, and trailblazers, you'll gain practical insights to help you navigate change, strengthen confidence, build influence, and create meaningful momentum. At the heart of the show is a simple belief: success should not come at the expense of your well-being, purpose, or authenticity. Drawing on the principles behind Stop Drifting: The Discipline of Direction™, the 7-Minute Pivot™, and decades of executive leadership and coaching experience, Dr. Cynthia helps listeners recognize the patterns that pull them away from what matters most—and take intentional steps toward the future they want to create. Whether you're pursuing your next promotion, leading through uncertainty, exploring what's next in your career, or simply seeking greater alignment in your life, this podcast will equip you with practical tools and inspiring stories to help you move forward with intention. Because the goal isn't to do more. It's to move with purpose.

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