Episodes

  • S3 Ep4: S3 EP4 - Empowering Others with Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger

    S3 Ep4: S3 EP4 - Empowering Others with Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger
    Oct 16 2024
    Women's empowerment might be all the rage, but what does empowerment really mean? In this episode, I sit down with Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger to discuss some of the ways she's leading by empowering others. Her ideas may just inspire you to go out and empower someone!
    Michelle Davis-Younger is the current Mayor of the City of Manassas, Virginia. A native of Manassas, she is the first person of color, first female, and first Democrat to hold the highest office in the city. Her collaborative approach and innovative initiatives aim to enhance the quality of life for all residents while fostering a thriving environment for businesses and organizations alike.

    Mentioned in this episode
    • Prince William Chamber of Commerce Women's Empowerment Conference: https://princewilliamchamberofcommerce.growthzoneapp.com/eventcalendar/Details/women-s-empowerment-conference-933773?sourceTypeId=Website
    • Robert Sweeney, Prince William Chamber of Commerce President & CEO: https://pwchamber.org/board-of-directors/
    • Sheila Johnson, BET Cofounder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. Check out Sheila Johnson's book 'Walk Through Fire' at https://tidd.ly/4eNzJiO
    • Manassas National Battlefield Park: https://www.nps.gov/mana/planyourvisit/index.htm
    • Learn more about Manassas Voter Registration & Elections at https://www.manassasva.gov/voter_registration_and_elections/ (Early voting starts 9/20 and the general election is 11/5!)

    Connect with Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger:
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Michelle4Manassas
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayor-michelle-she-her-hers-davis-shrm-cp-mba-bb8158169/
    • City of Manassas FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/cityofmanassas/

    Ambition Unboxed Community:
    • Live Q&A with Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers: https://www.cultivateink.com/event-details-registration/author-q-a-sarah-stewart-holland-and-beth-silvers
    • Join the Ambition Unboxed Book Club at www.ambitionunboxed.com
    • Connect with other ambitious women in our FB Group at www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.
    • Love this episode? Ambition Out Loud is community supported. Your financial contribution partners in our mission to advance women in leadership by providing critical resources and support to mitigate the barriers women+ face as we rise. You can fuel our ambition at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ambitionunboxed or by supporting us through our Libro.fm affiliate links, and thank you!
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    51 mins
  • S3 Ep3: S3 EP3 - Make Mindset Your Superpower with Tina Unrue

    S3 Ep3: S3 EP3 - Make Mindset Your Superpower with Tina Unrue
    Apr 9 2024
    What if mindset could be your superpower? So much of our ability to lead is constrained by our mindset. Narrow thinking can hamper decision-making, stifle team performance, and drive us to burn out. In this episode Tina shares how the Energy Leadership® Framework, the same transformative and emerging leadership approach utilized at companies like IKEA, Boeing, and the U.S. Coast Guard, can help us unlock new possibilities for ourselves and our teams.
    Tina Unrue is an ICF-certified coach with nearly three decades of experience spanning the federal government, private sector, and entrepreneurship. She’s held many positions throughout her career, most notably varied leadership roles within an elite law enforcement agency. Tina noticed a significant change in herself and her team dynamics after she became a life coach. She’s now committed to helping other women learn how to lead from the inside out, both at home and in the workplace. Despite numerous achievements throughout her career, her roles as mother, grandmother, wife, and friend are her most prized. In her spare time, Tina enjoys photography, reading, baking, and hiking, as well as lots and lots of coffee.

    Mentioned in this episode:
    • Evolved Leader Workshop (April 20th): www.evolvedleader.net
    • 20% off with discount code AMBITION24 if you register by April 13th
    • Energy Leadership® Framework: https://www.energyleadership.com/

    Connect with Tina:
    • https://www.selfishmama.com
    • https://www.facebook.com/selfishmama
    • https://www.instagram.com/realselfishmama
    • https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-unrue

    Ambition Unboxed Community:
    • Connect with other ambitious women in our FB Group at www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.
    • Join the Ambition Unboxed Book Club at www.ambitionunboxed.com
    • Love this episode? Ambition Out Loud is community supported. Your financial contribution partners in our mission to advance women in leadership by providing critical resources and support to mitigate the barriers women+ face as we rise. You can fuel our ambition at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ambitionunboxed, and thank you!
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • S3 Ep2: S3 EP2 - The Creative Power of Play with Alex Suchman

    S3 Ep2: S3 EP2 - The Creative Power of Play with Alex Suchman
    Oct 4 2023
    Gaming is often dismissed as being purely recreational, but it’s actually an highly effective tool for learning and team development.  Today, Alex Suchman joins me to dive into a topic that leaders often overlook.

    Alex is the CEO and Co-founder of Barometer XP, a Games-as-a-Service company committed to creating positive impact through play. Its holistic, human-focused approach leverages fun and creative challenges to help teams build healthy relationships, elevate diverse perspectives, foster change, and catalyze innovation.
    Alex is a woman on a mission to transform workplaces from the inside out.  I hope today’s episode inspires you to leverage the creative power of play.
    Mentioned in this episode:
    -     PMP: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp
    - Association for Talent Development conference (ATD23): https://atdconference.td.org/
    - DISC Assessment: https://institutesuccess.com/assessment/disc/
    - Myers-Briggs Personality Type: https://www.themyersbriggs.com/
    - Clifton StrengthsFinder Assessment: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx
    - "Using the Stages of Team Development" by Judith Stein: https://hr.mit.edu/learning-topics/teams/articles/stages-development
    - "Research: Women are Better Leaders During a Crisis" by Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman: https://hbr.org/2020/12/research-women-are-better-leaders-during-a-crisis
    - "An 'Epidemic' of Loneliness Threatens Health of Americans, Surgeon General Says" by Margaret Osborne: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-epidemic-of-loneliness-threatenes-health-of-americans-surgeon-general-says-180982142/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%2049%20percent%20of,an%20almost%2070%20percent%20drop.
    Connect with Alex:
    -     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrasuchman
    - Website: https://www.barometerxp.com/
    - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbxpteams/
    Ambition Unboxed Community:
    -     Connect with other ambitious women in our FB Group at www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.
    - Join the Ambition Unboxed Book Club at www.ambitionunboxed.com
    - Love this episode? Ambition Out Loud is community supported.  Your financial contribution partners in our mission to advance women in leadership by providing critical resources and support to mitigate the barriers women+ face as we rise. You can fuel our ambition at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ambitionunboxed, and thank you!
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    55 mins
  • S3 Ep1: S3 EP1 - Demystifying Executive Search with Somer Hackley

    S3 Ep1: S3 EP1 - Demystifying Executive Search with Somer Hackley
    Sep 26 2023
    Women account for over half of all management positions in the U.S., but progress remains slow when it comes to breaking glass ceilings.  As of 2022, women held only 8.8% of Fortune 500 CEO roles.  The black box nature of executive search is certainly not helping.

    Somer Hackley is here to change that.  Somer is the Founder and CEO of Distinguished Search, a retained executive search firm. She has been in recruiting for 20 years and placed executives in companies from Fortune 100 to startups.  She is also the author of "Search in Plain Sight: Demystifying Executive Search".

    Today, Somer joins us as we pull back the curtains on executive search.

    Mentioned in this episode:
    • Ambition Unboxed Book Club:  www.ambitionunboxed.com
    • India Aire - "Back to the Middle": https://open.spotify.com/track/0ZM6QtLJAF81PBHlsn5872?si=33ca76a5c36b4cac
    • LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company - 2022 Women in the Workplace Report: https://leanin.org/women-in-the-workplace
    • SeekOut - https://www.seekout.com/
    • US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Table 11: Employed Persons by Detailed Occupation, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethinicity (2022): https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm
    • Catalyst - Historical list of women CEOs of the Fortune lists: 1972-2023: https://www.catalyst.org/research/historical-list-of-women-ceos-of-the-fortune-lists-1972-2023/ 
     Connect with Somer:
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisissomer/
    • Website: https://www.distinguishedsearch.com/
     Community: 
    Connect with other ambitious women in our FB Group at: www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • S2 Ep7: S2 EP7 - Authentic Power with Ashley Bernardi

    S2 Ep7: S2 EP7 - Authentic Power with Ashley Bernardi
    Apr 12 2022
    What if, instead of viewing your emotions as a weakness, you saw them as a source of strength?
    Ashley Bernardi, Literary Titan Book Award Winner and Author of "Authentic Power: Give Yourself Permission to Feel" learned how to step into her strength when she finally took the time to process her emotions. In healing from Lyme disease and the traumatic passing of her father, Ashley unlocked healing she didn't know she needed and stepped into a power that was waiting within herself. By healing herself, Ashley also leveled up as a leader which led to explosive growth in her business, Nardi Media.
    Ashley and I sit down to talk about her new book and what leading from authentic power looks like.
    Mentioned in this episode:
    • SCORE - Small Business Mentor Network: https://www.score.org/
    • InsightTimer - Free app for sleep, anxiety, and stress: https://insighttimer.com/
    • Lifehack Method - Productivity tactics: https://lifehackmethod.com/ 

    Connect with Ashley:
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookerbernardi/ 
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-bernardi-5695426
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.bernardi.5
    • Website: https://ashleybernardi.com/
    • Nardi Media: https://nardimedia.com/

    Community Book Signing:  Want to come to our private book signing with Ashley?  Learn more in the Ambition Unboxed FB Group at: www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.
    Sponsors:
    • Her Hideaways - use code AMBITIONOUTLOUD for $25 OFF any order: https://www.herhideaways.com/ 
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • S2: BONUS: Get Hired Challenge

    S2: BONUS: Get Hired Challenge
    Oct 8 2021
    By now we are all well aware that many women felt trapped between a rock and a hard place as the coronavirus spread and dependent care responsibilities increased. In the face of these unsustainable challenges, many women felt that they had no other choice than to leave the workplace.
    If this sounds like you and you're now ready to re-enter the workforce, then we’re here to help.  This episode officially kicks off our Get Hired Challenge.  The challenge is designed to support your job search efforts with actionable information, tools, and access to community so that you don't have to go it alone.

    Mentioned in this episode:
    • Request Access to the Get Hired Challenge Hub and Resources at: www.gethiredchallenge.com
    • "The Arts And Humanities Deliver Untapped Value For the Future Of Work" by Benjamin Wolff: https://bit.ly/2WTboFv 
     Topic Timestamps:
    • Overcoming Imposter w/ April Frazier - 10:49
    • Resume Rescue w/ Jennifer Hocutt - 17:00
    • Spice Up Your LinkedIn w/ Rebecca Gunter - 23:18
    • Tech Careers for Humanities Majors w/ Eva Reid - 29:20
    • Building Interview Confidence w/ Ellen Twomey - 34:05
    • Navigating Career Transitions with Confidence w/ Tina Unrue - 40:41
    • Quick Tips to Look Good on Camera w/ Anna Davalos - 47:00
    • Hire a Career Coach? w/ Lisa Woodroof - 48:58
    • Staying Motivated When Things Get Tough w/ Meg Sytnick - 57:40
     Community:  Looking to connect with other ambitious women?  Our community's online hang out is the Ambition Unboxed FB Group at: www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.
    Sponsors:
    • Her Hideaways - use code AMBITIONOUTLOUD for $25 OFF any order: https://www.herhideaways.com/ 
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • S2 Ep6: S2 EP6 - Own Your Financial Power with Rebecca Borton

    S2 Ep6: S2 EP6 - Own Your Financial Power with Rebecca Borton
    Nov 3 2020
    When's the last time you flexed your financial power?  Did you read that and think, "Nicole, you are talking to the wrong person.  Where is this "financial power" of which you speak?"  (It might be small, but I assure you it's there.)   Rebecca Borton and I sit down to discuss the financial power hiding in your wallet so that you can harness it and reap the rewards of intentional financial living.  Rebecca is a financial catalyst for change makers.  As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, with Concentric Private Wealth, she helps growth-oriented and ambitious people change their behavior and their experience of their wealth, so they can live a life they love today and in the future.     Mentioned in this episode:
    • Want to learn more about the current economic climate?  Check out the Marketplace podcast: https://www.marketplace.org/. 
      Connect with Rebecca:
    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQLqZTovkdXvw5QoWXlhSXw/videos
    • LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rebeccaborton 
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaBortonCFP/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/BortonRebecca
    • Website: www.concentricpw.com
      Community:  Looking to connect with other ambitious women?  Our community's online hang out is the Ambition Unboxed FB Group at: www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.   Sponsors:
    • Nardi Media Black Lives Matter Book Club: https://nardimedia.com/bookclub/
    • BLM Book Club Companion Box by Ambition Unboxed: https://bit.ly/2CYLBBv
    • Her Hideaways - use code AMBITIONOUTLOUD for $25 OFF any order: https://www.herhideaways.com/ 
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    51 mins
  • S2 Ep5: S2 EP5 - Empower Yourself with Phylicia Woods

    S2 Ep5: S2 EP5 - Empower Yourself with Phylicia Woods
    Oct 31 2020
    Phylicia L. Woods comes from a long line of bold and empowered women.  She is a Director of Federal Relations at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and currently serves as Vice Chair on the Fairfax County Commission for Women were she represents the Providence District.  She previously served as Counsel to Former U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill on the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and as Health Counsel on the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.  In this episode, Phylicia shares her multi-generational secrets so that you can learn how to empower yourself.   Mentioned in this episode:
    • Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-combating-race-sex-stereotyping/
    • Agencies, Contractors Suspend Diversity Training to Avoid Violating Trump Order by Melissa Block (NPR): https://www.npr.org/2020/10/30/929165869/agencies-contractors-suspend-diversity-training-to-avoid-violating-trump-order
    • Voting Rights Act of 1965 Remains a Work in Progress Against Suppression by Rebecca R. Bibbs (The Goshen News): https://www.goshennews.com/indiana/news/voting-rights-act-of-1965-remains-a-work-in-progress-against-suppression/article_79c002de-5d23-5fb6-b84c-9d16e6789592.html
    • This Year's Election Will Decide Whether America Witnesses a Third Reconstruction by David A. Love (The Washington Post): https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/10/29/this-years-elections-will-decide-if-america-witnesses-third-reconstruction/
    • John Lewis' Legacy Is the Right to Vote. And It's Under Attack by Ari Berman (Mother Jones): https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/07/john-lewis-legacy-is-the-right-to-vote-and-its-under-attack/ 
      Connect with Phylicia:
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phylnoinsta/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phylicia-l-woods-esq-15831a23/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/phylwoo
      Community:  Looking to connect with other ambitious women?  Our community's online hang out is the Ambition Unboxed FB Group at: www.facebook.com/groups/ambitionunboxed.   Sponsors:
    • Nardi Media Black Lives Matter Book Club: https://nardimedia.com/bookclub/
    • BLM Book Club Companion Box by Ambition Unboxed: https://bit.ly/2CYLBBv
    • Her Hideaways - use code AMBITIONOUTLOUD for $25 OFF any order: https://www.herhideaways.com/ 
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    50 mins