What if you could stop leaning into your career, and instead could have the confidence to go all-in? This week Erin talks with Erin Lydon, Managing Director for Poker Powher, a company that teaches women how to play Texas Hold'em and then helps them translate their newfound poker skills to compete and succeed in business, finance, and so much more. Erin Haztikostas starts off by asking how Erin Lydon's career started. While in Business School at Northwestern, she realized that the guys were taking big-paying finance jobs on Wallstreet, so she decided that was the place to be. She then decided to leave the workforce to raise her two daughters, after struggling (understandably) to work in such a busy environment and do that plus be a good wife and mother well. After a pause to raise her kids, Erin L. went back to work, first as a board member for a few companies. She later joined Evil Geniuses as their strategic advisor. Then, mere weeks before we were all hit by Covid, she took on the role as General Manager at Poker Powher. Erin H. asks how Erin L. was able to take a break from such an intense career and workforce, for such a long period of time, and then walk back into a job many people struggle to get who have never taken time out of work. Erin L. talks through the power and importance of maintaining your networks and connections, even (especially) when you're not looking for a job.  Erin L. explains how she started working at Poker Powher and how the emergence of Covid could have very easily put an end to the business. However, they found a way to pivot to a virtual model.  They discuss how learning poker, and practicing the game, can teach women so many skills they need to succeed at work.  Erin H. asks what our listeners can do on their own to start to experiment, and what programs Poker Powher has for newcomers, especially individuals who might not consider going to something like this. She follows this up by asking. "What's the biggest, strategic thing you have done as a strategic poker player, that has helped her career?" Erin L. talks about how her newfound understanding of the power of observation helps her pause and gather more information at work, helping her have more successful interactions and results in all that she does.  Learn more at pokerpower.com If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Follow Nicole on LinkedIn:   Follow Erin on LinkedIn:   Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Get your own copy of Erin's book by searching "You Do You Ish" in amazon or going to   Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "I worked on Wallstreet when pay was secret and pregnancy was hidden. That's not ok. Not 20 years ago and definitely not today." "I have continued and maintained relationships, and that's how doors were opened for me at Evil Geniuses." "I'm always selling. Even when I'm not selling...I'm always selling." "I wasn't still networking because I wanted to. I was doing it because I was sat at home bored with toddlers and what else was I going to do?." "When she first told me about Poker Powher, I said 'that's a terrible idea.'" "We do teach you how to bluff, but we also teach strategic thinking, quick decision making, computation, and risk assessment." "It's so exciting to see this transformation of 'I didn't know anything, and a year later I'm teaching this game to other women." "There are very few women who allocate capital and who are making decisions around capital." "They're going after positions that maybe they don't have the qualifications for, but suddenly they have the courage." "In poker, aggression is a positive word. It's being assertive at the table."