When professionals think about career development, the instinct is to look inward: new certifications, stretch assignments, promotions or leadership programs. Growth is something we expect to find within the walls of our organizations. But some of the most valuable professional development opportunities are somewhere else entirely: outside your company, outside your industry and often outside […]
Kelly Gust
Posted inWomen's Business Showcase
What I wish more women knew
A few years ago, I did what many women consider at some point in their careers. I stepped out on my own and built a consulting business. I craved a sense of control, autonomy and the chance to work with leaders who truly wanted to “buy what I was selling.” For six years, I ran […]
Posted inArticles
When to step back from a leadership role
Taking a step back: Does less responsibility lead to more fulfillment? For many seasoned leaders facing burnout, the idea of stepping back into an individual-contributor role can be tempting. The memory of simpler days, when success was measured by personal output rather than team performance, and evenings were free from after-hours emails, can be alluring. […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
‘Tell me about yourself’ – How to answer this important question
If you’re heading to a job interview or attending a career fair, chances are you’ll hear this classic opening line: “So, tell me about yourself.” It may sound simple, but it’s one of the most important questions you’ll answer. In just 30–60 seconds, you have the chance to make a memorable first impression and connect […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Critical thinking jiujitsu
In my son’s jiujitsu practice, coaches help competitors remain calm under pressure. In fact, emotional outbursts in a match result in disqualification. Once your emotions take over, you’ve lost the ability for rational problem-solving and decision-making. This is advice I’m leaning heavily into these days (takes deep breath). It seems like any conversation is just […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The power of business networking
The phrase “networking event” sounds like a cringey waste of time, doesn’t it? Even as a verified extravert, the thought of talking to strangers and making meaningless conversation gives me a visceral reaction – pounding heart and sweaty palms as I imagine all of the awkward silences. At first, networking can seem intimidating, or at […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Interview fatigue
Job seekers often find themselves caught in a whirlwind of interviews, and while interviews are a crucial part of the job search process, they can also lead to interview fatigue. But don’t worry! There are effective and energizing strategies to combat the burnout and keep the process smooth and efficient. What Is interview fatigue? Interview […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Beat the bots
“Tik-toker applies for over 550 jobs and doesn’t hear back from any of them.” “Florida man tests the ‘no one wants to work’ theory by applying to 60 entry-level jobs and only gets one interview.” “I hit send on my online application, then received an automatic rejection email less than a minute later.” We hear […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
How to get unstuck
One of the best compliments I get from clients is when they say, “We’ve made more progress in the past six months working with you on [insert complicated problem here], than we have in the past six years.” Facing a tough or ambiguous problem at work or in your personal life is like staring into […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Sound mind, sound body, sound success
When asked what we want to be when we grow up, no one says “fit and healthy.” Instead, we think of our education, training and various ways we might wish to spend 40-50 hours per week. When we enter the workforce, our jobs often take priority over our fitness. Many of us have made the […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
What to be when (and if) you grow up
When I was approaching high school graduation (in the late 1900s as my teenaged son likes to say), I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. This existential question was daunting. I envisioned myself in a city, wearing suits and making money. Noble goals, right? I meandered through college having […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Make yourself indispensable
With economic uncertainty on the rise, unfortunately some employers are starting to play defense; reducing headcount in their organizations through layoffs and downsizing. Snap, Bed Bath and Beyond, Predictive Index, Groupon, Wayfair and others all made headlines last fall for reducing headcounts by as many as 39,000 jobs, according to Crunchbase.com. In 2008, I was […]
