female leadership Archives - Page 4 of 4

Future Proof Me – Taking Control of your Calendar

November 24, 2020
by Claire

Brought to you by Microsoft’s The New Next

With the crazy year that 2020 has been and many people feeling exhausted as we come into the Holiday season, this week’s mini episode may be exactly what you need.

In ‘Taking Control of Your Calendar’ we revisit some great advice from drone expert and Associate Professor, Dr Cath Ball on optimising your time and calendar. As she puts it so adroitly, she now thinks of emails simply as other people telling you how to use your time.

Cath is something of a dynamo – you can hear it in the way she speaks – so many fantastic thoughts, all at a million miles per hour.

Cath had to learn some important lessons when she left corporate life and started working for herself. Particularly once she had her first baby, she realised just how priceless her time was and how easy it was to let other people control her time.

So if you’re feeling like your diary is out of your control then you’ll love Cath’s thoughts and advice on ensuring how you spend your time works for you. Whether you work for yourself or for others there’s plenty of great advice here.

Enjoy!

Links

Link to full episode with Dr Cath Ball – Flying High with Drones & More

Dr Cath Ball’s website

World of Drones Congress

Dr Cath Ball Linkedin

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – Secrets to Giving Great Presentations

November 10, 2020
by Claire

Brought to you by Microsoft’s The New Next

For this week’s Future Proof Me mini episode, we couldn’t resist going back to one of our earliest episodes with the amazing speaker, author and Fellow at Oxford University, Rachel Botsman.

Rachel’s schedule has changed pretty drastically since COVID broke out as normally she’d be flying round the world given keynotes on the most prestigious of stages. Now she’s getting used to giving her keynotes virtually.

Whether the format is virtual or in person, the very generous and fulsome advice Rachel shares here is invaluable to help you think about, and prepare, a great presentation or speech.

Even if you don’t want to give a TED talk as Rachel has, we all know that how we present our ideas and information really does matter.

Enjoy this episode where Rachel shares her trade secrets…

Useful Links

Rachel’s original episode – TED Talks, Writing Books and BHAG Goals

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – Managing Imposter Syndrome

September 1, 2020September 1, 2020
by Claire

This week’s ‘Future Proof Me’ mini episode shares fantastic advice on how to overcome Imposter Syndrome. We were really struck by the great advice one of our very earliest guests shared with us on this topic.

Courtney Hohne has a box seat to some of the most incredible innovations in the world as chief Storyteller at X: the Moonshot Factory, Alphabet’s (i.e. Google) – innovation and R&D company. Think self driving cars, internet balloons and drone deliveries amongst many other innovations in the works.

At X, Courtney is surrounded by some of the world’s brightest, quickest and sharpest minds, an environment where even the most confident of executives could be forgiven for feeling a tad intimidated or for feeling like an imposter at the meeting table!

In fact, as she so refreshingly shares with us, this is something Courtney has to face into every day and her great advice on overcoming that imposter feeling is well worth heeding.

Check it out now we’re sure you’ll be glad you did! Enjoy.

Useful Links

Link to Courtney’s original episode

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – Solving Problems That Computers Can’t

August 4, 2020
by Claire

Gotta problem? Then listen up! Our first mini episode for August shares some tips to help you solve gnarly problems better.

Many Future of Work experts agree that complex problem solving skills will be in strong demand. These are the kinds of problems that computers and AI can’t solve because they are only as good as the (historical) data we program into them. Even the best algorithms can’t solve complex problems in the creative way a human brain can.

Listen now to hear about the lessons we and some of our guests have learnt about tackling problems and making the decisions that need to be made to move forward. Enjoy!

Interview

Mitra Azizirad – How Resilience and Persistence Can Make…

June 16, 2020June 17, 2020
by Claire

This week’s episode features a trailblazing woman in tech who’s had an extraordinary 28 year career at Microsoft.

Mitra Azizirad is Corporate Vice President of AI and Innovation Marketing at Microsoft based in Seattle.

As you’ll discover, Mitra’s heard it all, including a senior Defence executive telling her he had shoes older than she was! This indomitable woman has also got used to hearing plenty of ‘No’s’ at work but has repeatedly found ways to prove the naysayers wrong.

In this episode you’ll learn:

How it’s almost an accident Mitra got into tech in the first place, given she studied and wanted to work in International Relations
What it was like being Chief of Staff to the CEO of Microsoft and why she turned the job down several times in the first place
Why she’s never taken anyone’s advice
And the secrets of innovation she’s learnt from working on the cutting edge of technology.

We spoke with Mitra in Seattle during the coronavirus shutdown but before the Black Lives Matter protests.

Without further ado enjoy this episode with the forward thinking and very persistent Mitra Azizirad.

Links of interest

Mitra on LinkedIn – see her speeches here too! Well worth a look!

Microsoft Innovation – Mitra’s team

Microsoft AI – also Mitra’s team

Microsoft’s AI Business School – Free Course

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – Why Career ‘Progression’ Doesn’t Always…

May 26, 2020May 26, 2020
by Claire

Ever felt a lot of self-imposed pressure to keep on moving up the career ladder?

That’s the key topic of this week’s Future Proof Me episode.

These mini episodes are all about sharing a ‘nugget’ of an idea, a piece of advice or a thought provoking insight to help us all navigate our way ahead in these uncertain and unusual times.

This week we revisit a conversation we had a year ago with well known Australian media entrepreneur, Mia Freedman. One of our favourite parts of our conversation with her was some great advice she shared on how to think about your next career move.

With COVID-19, we’re hearing from many of you who have lost their roles or are fearful of losing their jobs, and whilst this advice from Mia was recorded before, we think you’ll agree that what Mia has to say is particularly useful in this new context.

So if you’re curious about what connection ‘ladders’ and ‘lattices’ have in the context of your career; or what the heck ‘flearning’ means…. Listen on. We promise you’ll be the wiser for it.

Enjoy this Future Proof Me episode with Mia Freedman. . .

Interview

Jacqueline Novogratz – Revolutionary For a Better World

May 19, 2020May 20, 2020
by Claire

We have a real treat in store for you today with a truly remarkable changemaker and NY Times bestselling author as our guest.

Acumen Founder and CEO, Jacqueline Novogratz, has been named one of the 25 Smartest People of the Decade by the Daily Beast, and one of the world’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds by Forbes, amongst numerous other honours.

Jacqueline pioneered the notion of ‘patient capital’, investing in social entrepreneurs around the world. Acumen supports them to establish sustainable businesses that serve some of the world’s poorest people.

What makes this episode a particularly fascinating one is that all this work with entrepreneurs has taught Jacqueline and her team so much about what it takes to succeed when trying to create change. And now she’s also just released a new book sharing what it takes to be a changemaker. It’s called Manifesto for a Moral Revolution (and there’s a free course too if you buy the book).

In this episode you’ll hear:

How her early attempts at social change in Africa seriously failed to impress the locals;
What she learnt about humanity when she became one of the first people to visit in jail someone she’d known well who’d gone on to become a major perpetrator in the Rwandan Genocide;
How Jacqueline sees investment as a means to solving problems rather than making profit as the primary goal; and ….
How she’s seeing women entrepreneurs successfully breaking the rules particularly now during the coronavirus crisis.

Enjoy this episode with the incredibly inspiring Jacqueline Novogratz…

Links of Interest

Acumen Website

Jacqueline’s Books:

Manifesto for a Moral Revolution – Practices to Build a Better World – her latest book. If you buy a copy you can sign up for free to her 11 week course ‘The Path of Moral Leadership’ (usually it’s US$195)

The Blue Sweater

How To Episode

How To Game Plan If You Lose Your Job

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020
by Claire

This week as the economic impact from COVID-19 continues to unfold, we wanted to give anyone affected, or anyone who fears they may be affected in future, something seriously practical and useful to action.

One thing we know for sure is that the best and fastest way to reduce your anxiety and stress over financial or employment issues is to have a plan.

This episode will give you the steps to create your very own game plan so you too can feel prepared for whatever happens.

Not only that, we’re super excited that this episode shares invaluable advice from an international resume writing expert who is also a former long-time recruiter and search consultant. Handy eh?

Yes indeed, no mucking around here, if you want some amazing advice to help you bounce back and ‘get that job’ then you are in the right place.

In this episode you’ll learn:

3 key areas to focus your game plan on
Why it’s important to know where you stand financially
Winning tips to create a fantastic resume / CV
A little-known ‘insider’s’ tip for using LinkedIn

Whatever your circumstance, you’ll feel more resilient, more prepared and readier than ever for the right opportunity by following the advice in this episode.

Useful Links

Register your interest for our ‘How to Ace your Interview’ course here

Executive Resume Writer, Donna Svei’s website

Heidi Hackemer on Instagram

Heidi’s powerful Medium article

Awesome list of Side Hustle ideas

How To Episode

How to Have a Great Year

January 28, 2020
by Claire

Our first ‘How To’ episode of 2020 brings you super useful tips and advice to set yourself up for an awesome 2020!

To put this episode together, we scoured the latest research and we drew upon the content and expertise we’ve developed delivering leadership programs around the world for major companies such as Google, Salesforce and Pinterest.

And, as usual, you also get to hear thoughts from some of our amazing guests on the topic as well.

You may well have thought about some New Year’s resolutions or goals recently, but whatever your situation, we’re confident that this episode will turbocharge your prospects for the rest of the year.

Here’s a taste of some of the many invaluable things you’ll learn from this episode:

The somewhat surprising first step we advise you take when planning a great year ahead
The huge benefits you can reap from cultivating a more positive outlook and mindset, plus easy tips to help you do just that
How to avoid being over-ambitious with all the goals you want to set for yourself and spare yourself from feeling you’ve failed when you don’t achieve them all
And, the one thing you can easily do to increase the chance of you achieving your goals by more than 30%.

Improve your chances by more than 30% – that’s insane isn’t it?

So don’t delay, make sure you listen now to give yourself the best chance for a fantastic 2020.

Enjoy!

Useful links

How to Breathe Easy About your Purpose episode

Tim Ferriss’s Reflection Process

Achieving your goals: An evidence-based approach, Michigan State University

Why a Happy Brain Performs Better – HBR

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:13 — 22.3MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Blog

How to Avoid Burn-Out: How to be Happy &…

November 1, 2019November 5, 2019
by admin

How to Avoid Burn-Out: How to be Happy & Healthy in Your Job

by Claire Hatton

Burn-out creeps up on you over a period of time, or at least that’s my experience. It’s not like one day you’re happy and healthy in your job and the next you’re burnt out.

Burn-out was triggered for me over about a six months period after a particularly intense period of work at Google. Pressure from above to deliver results in difficult circumstances intensified, there was a lack of resources so I was doing the job of three people, and I was receiving hardly any feedback. It started with interrupted sleep and me working every hour I could. Then over a period of a few months it led to emotional & physical exhaustion which unleashed a raging inner critic. That snowballed into a sense of feeling incompetent and an irrational sense I was going to be fired (in fact I was given a pay rise and awarded A LOT of shares but that’s a story for another day or hear it here). Because I continued to work and ignored the symptoms I got really sick …so sick it moved into Chronic Fatigue and I had to take four months off work to convalesce.

Trust me, you don’t want to let yourself reach the burn-out stage.

Since then I’ve learnt a lot about how to avoid burn-out so here are three things you can do to be happy and healthy in your job:

1. Make self care a priority

I can’t tell you how many of the amazing women my co-host, Greta Thomas, and I have interviewed on our podcast, Don’t Stop Us Now! who have told us that self care is one of the most critical aspects to their success and resilience. Essentially they say that no-one is going to prioritise your health apart from you. If you expect your Manager, co-founder, partner or colleague to ensure you’re well you’ve probably got another thing coming.

Cyan Ta’eed, co-Founder of Envato, Hey Tiger and Milkshake told us that self care is just a non-negotiable for her because she can’t be the person she wants to be without it. Whether it’s building good sleep habits, learning how to switch off or exercising regularly, make sure you prioritise your own mental and physical care. Guard this ‘you’ time as if it’s the most precious thing in your life . . . because it just might be in the long run.

And don’t forget to talk all of your vacation days. Things won’t crumble without you there!

2. Be aware of your self talk

Watch out for ‘negative self talk’ or, as we like to refer to it, your ‘Evil DJ’. You know, that voice in your head that likes to criticise you. Your Evil DJ is likely to have a couple of regular negative soundtracks that are triggered when you’re feeling stressed or tired. Popular soundtracks include “I’m not handling this” or “I’m not as good as him/her” or “I’m going to fail”. Mine was “I’m not good enough/not doing enough”.

One way to get on top of this is to check in regularly with yourself, particularly if you’re under stress, and ask yourself “am I stuck in my head?” “Is my Evil DJ in charge?”, “What’s the Evidence for these thoughts?”. Remember no matter how convincing your thoughts are, they are not necessarily fact. We advise talking with a friend to gain some perspective. Check out our podcast episode “How to Manage Your Inner Critic” if you’d like to know more.

3. Talk to your boss to get more support and resources

Often burn-out comes when work is unrelenting and demanding. This is particularly troublesome when you lack the resources and support to cope effectively.

Our advice is not to expect that your boss will know that you’re struggling and will magically come to your aid and save you. They aren’t mind readers. So talk to them about how they can help you. Take them through your workload and help them understand the challenges you face. Consider asking them “if this was you, what would you do?” or “how can you support me to have a more manageable workload?”. This might mean you need to stop doing some things, do them differently or delegate more, or maybe your boss can get you some more resources. After this conversation if you find your boss is not supportive, go to someone else. If this doesn’t work, seriously consider your options.

Remember that no one, repeat no one, will care about your wellbeing or your working hours as much as you. So get proactive and protective and look after your wellbeing, think about what’s really important to you and set boundaries.

After all, your career is a marathon and not a sprint, so pace yourself for the distance. When you’re near the end of your life are you really going to care about those emails you never replied to?

I don’t think so.