Some people become more confident and decisive when they step into leadership roles. Others become louder, less receptive, and harder to reach. Over time, I’ve noticed how power can subtly reshape how people lead and not always for the better.

Many individuals struggle to find fulfillment in their work, often questioning whether jobs can provide meaning beyond financial stability.

Between my professional experience as a hiring manager and academic experience teaching business writing at the university-level, I’ve...

From an early age, many of us are taught to view career success through the lens of pay and promotion. This perspective, which is deeply ingrained in our cultural fabric, positions financial gain and hierarchical advancement as the primary objectives of professional life. Society, media, and even educational narratives have long championed this view, painting a picture of success that emphasizes ascending the corporate ladder and achieving monetary wealth as the hallmarks of

During my years of helping highly-motivated students begin and advance their careers, I’ve observed a common pattern as they develop...

During my junior year of college, I wanted to explore a possible career in the wealth management field. When I was offered an internship at the first place I applied, I quickly accepted the position without giving the details of the role much thought. However, within the first few days, I realized I had made a poor decision. I thought I would be learning about investment strategies and sitting in on client meetings, but I spent almost all of my time leading the effort to move

I recently met with a student who had a problem that most soon-to-be graduates would love to have: he had two job offers. He began by telling me a little bit about both opportunities. Offer A Offer B Well-known company Lesser-known company 80-90 hour workweek 50-60 hour workweek Above-average starting salary Average starting salary Competitive environment Supportive environment Four hours from hometown Close to hometown Unknown supervisor Supervisor known for mentorship

Imagine two professionals on the same team. Both are smart. Both care about doing good work. The first is highly competent. Their work is accurate, efficient, and technically strong. They meet expectations consistently, but spend little time building relationships beyond what is required to get tasks done. The second is also competent. Not exceptional at everything, but solid and reliable. In addition to doing the work, this individual invests time in relationships. They prio

A job interview is a bit like a first date. Prior to most first dates, you often have some communication. For example, if you met online, you’ve seen a photo of the person, read a little about them, and perhaps exchanged some information via text or email. Now, imagine two different first dates. Date A : This person makes a connection between something you shared in your profile and something relevant to your conversation. They ask you a question related to something they saw

Aligning your values with your work impacts your job satisfaction and health. Research from McKinsey has found that “people who say they are ‘living their purpose’ at work report levels of well-being that are five times higher than those of people who aren’t.” Not surprisingly, these individuals are also more engaged in their work. McKinsey developed a matrix based on nine personal values that are recognized across cultures. I recreated the matrix below. The horizontal axis r

I’ve come across Marge Piercy’s poem “To Be of Use” in a few different places over the years and each time I read it, I appreciate it in...

When Edwin Budding patented his idea for the lawnmower in 1830, he never imagined his invention would serve as a defining moment for the...