b Cause Work Doesn't Have to Suck

Networking: you either love it, or you’re counting down the minutes ‘til you’re out of there. But what if you were more intentional? What if you walked into every networking event with a game plan to make those chats actually matter? 

This week’s guest knows the tricks to turn small talk into smart moves—and they’re spilling the goods to help you up your networking game.

Robbie Samuels is an event design consultant, executive Zoom producer, and business growth coach, recognized as a networking expert by NPR, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Inc. 

He’s the award-winning author of three books, and founder of the Biz Book Publishing Hub, helping entrepreneurs become successful authors with launch teams and a strong review pipeline. 

Since 2016, he’s hosted the On the Schmooze podcast and the #NoMoreBadZoom Virtual Happy Hour.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) Why you need to be less of a bagel and more of a croissant at events

2.) The importance of planning your business card and follow up strategy

3.) The one thing that you most need for an effective virtual meeting 

http://robbiesamuels.com/tedx

http://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiesamuels

BombBomb:https://bombbomb.com/

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “Culture can be shifted, but you need the intention from both sides.”

•  “Go into those spaces specifically looking to make connections.”

• "Follow-up is something that you actually have to be thinking about before, during, and after if you want to be successful.”

• "Serendipity is more likely to happen when you know what you're looking for."

ADD and ADHD are finally getting some much-needed recognition in the workplace, but here’s the real question—are leaders ready to keep up? 

It’s one thing to acknowledge these neurodivergent traits, but it's another to actually adapt, ditching outdated systems and embracing new ways to lead. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about letting people fidget or work in bursts—it’s about creating a culture where everyone thrives, distractions and all. 

So, are leaders truly on board? Well, one leader is and she’s telling you how she’s doing it. 

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “I'm over the slutty costume phase and now I'm in my inflatable era.”

• "If you want a deep study in human psychology, just watch Toy Story. It's got all the characters you’ll meet in real life."

• "Not every neurodivergent person will be a Mark Zuckerberg or a cult leader. Many are just trying to be in society."

• "We have to protect ourselves, we have to protect our team and our own energy. If we can't show up to this job feeling decent and good every day, it’s a downhill spiral."

Does work-life balance exist? According to our guest, it can. In fact, she believes you can have a big, full life AND have the freedom to enjoy it. 

Cherylanne Skolnicki is the founder and CEO of Brilliant Balance, including her top-rated podcast. She's on a mission to redefine what it means to have it all. 

Some of the things you'll hear are: 

1.) How you need to diagnose WHY you are doing things for your kids

2.) What is "cognitive overload" and the tangible steps you can take to unload the overload

2.) What is "cognitive overload" and the tangible steps you can take to unload the overload

3.) The impact of us often thinking that future us is kinda a loser

4.) The invisible belief you likely have regarding your overfull work plate and how to change that

5.) What happened when her client took specific steps to get more balance (it involves P!NK!)

Website: https://brilliant-balance.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylanne-skolnicki-brilliant-balance/

 

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “I want a big, full life and the freedom to enjoy it.”

• “Sometimes we think ‘future us’ is a bit of a loser.”

• "What really drives up the cognitive load that we're carrying is unmade decisions...when we have certain decisions that we sort of resist making and they're running on like an open loop in our minds, that takes up a lot of brain space."

• “You have to live the story you want to tell.”

Is your work lingo working against you?

In this episode, Erin chats with Julie Holunga—a leadership advisor, executive coach, and TEDx speaker on a mission to help professionals amplify their influence and impact. 

Julie spills her secrets on how some seemingly innocent phrases might be stealthily sabotaging your career and more golden nuggets you won’t want to miss!

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.)  What she learned while working at Harvard...and what she had to unlearn

 2.) The biggest words and phrases that can sabotage your career

3.) Tips for influencing people NOT reporting to you

4.) The 3 biggest components to Lazy Leadership...and simple habits to change to be less lazy

5.) Simple replacement phrases for the 3 most dreadful (and commonly said) phrases in business

Ready to find out which common phrases you need to ditch—and what to say instead?  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieholunga/

Website: https://www.julieholunga.com/

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “Leaders who communicate with trust, see conflict as a necessity, and behave with integrity.”

• “I wrote ‘pubic’ instead of ‘public’. So, spellcheck didn't catch that.”

• “Even though they may be an expert in their company, we're an expert in what we do and we have to remind ourselves of that.”

• "Instead of saying, 'I think,' say, 'I recommend' or 'I suggest.' If they're hiring you for your expertise, don't downplay that expertise."

Curious what really makes those elusive HR professionals' brains itch? Us too. So we knew we had to bring in the big guns to ask. In this episode, we sit down with Bruce Wallace, Chief People Officer at Newman’s Own. 

Bruce became Chief People Officer at Newman’s Own in September 2020, overseeing Human Resources for both Newman’s Own, Inc. and Newman’s Own Foundation. He brings over 25 years of HR experience across industries including healthcare, retail, consumer products, and financial services.

Before joining Newman’s Own, Bruce served as VP and Senior HR Business Partner at Prudential Financial, where he provided HR support to key areas such as Product & Pricing, Sales, and Operations. His career began in sales and sales management before transitioning into HR, where he gained experience working with start-ups and Fortune 50 companies.

Bruce holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of Connecticut, a Master’s in Human Resources and Finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an executive coaching certification from Columbia University.

On the personal side, Bruce has three daughters -- two taxer-payers, and one college junior – and lives in the Greater Hartford area with another HR professional, his wife of 25 years.  

Some of the things you'll hear are:

- What he believes is the Career Advancement Conundrum and how to get through that

- The #1 thing he looks for when he's keeping an eye on talent that'll rise

- The biggest misstep you can make in an interview

- Newman's Own's innovative 50% Ruled initiative

- The 3 things he needs every day to make work suck less

 

Connect with Bruce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-wallace-0613/

Newman’s Own LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newmans-own/mycompany/ 

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "As long as you're learning and staying open to where each step can take you, you'll remain adaptable in how you grow and apply your experience. This flexibility allows you to move within an organization without being locked into one path."

• “Everyone has different perspectives. So it's really just allowing the perspective of each person to contribute to the success of the organization.”

• "The best days I have are when I get three belly laughs."

• "Our number one job as leaders is to knock down barriers and give people the things they need."

The 50% Rule is out TODAY! If you're all about actionable advice, a dash of salty language, and motivational stories that pack a punch, this book was made for you. 

Want to hear a little more about the book? Well this episode has you covered there too. 

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) Why bowling for Alzheimer’s is a thing—because fun can do good.

2.) The 50 percent rule—why aiming for 100 percent all the time is just unrealistic (and not necessary).

3.) What to expect from the book—spoiler: it’s something you’ll want on your shelf.

4.) The idea of a book mascot—is it ridiculous? Yes. Is it happening? It definitely needs to.   

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “It's not my doing, it's my DNA!”

• “It's more than just permission to not be perfect. It's more than just a self-help tool. It's the thing that can help you stand out and build a product that is super successful without working harder. It's the way to get noticed. It's a way to do work and life differently.”

• “I call it an authenticity hack. It's an innovation hack. It's a permission to release your perfectionism.”

• “It is a permission to be more authentic, but it's also a motivator. It's also a thing that helps you stand out from the crowd.”

In this episode of b Cause Work Doesn’t Have to Suck, Erin opens up about her recent health overhaul. From chronic back pain to sugar detoxes, she’s sharing how she’s turned things around in the last six months.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) Erin's wake-up call to change her health habits.

2.) Her surprising relationship with sugar and how she kicked it to the curb.

3.) The power of weightlifting and macronutrients in her transformation.

4.) The unexpected perks: less pain and a happier mindset.

239: 5 Things I've Learned on My Health Journey

188: Stress, Sex, & Sleep: The Truth About Your March to Menopause with Dr. Fiona Lovely

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “The headline is you don't have to be a victim. The best is not over.”

• "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again, expecting different results.”

• "It's so easy to get caught up in being the victim and blame it on all the things—perimenopause, the company, the macro environment—but there's always a different way to do things."

• "The moment I stopped focusing on what I couldn’t control and started focusing on what I could, everything shifted."

Let’s face it—everyone has work complaints. Whether you’re thriving in your role or just trying to get by, we can all agree that sometimes work... just sucks. So, how do you make it less serious and a little more bearable? Well, believe it or not, a bit of humor can go a long way.   

This week’s guest, Kate Davis, will show you how lightening up and adding humor can turn even the toughest workdays around  

Kate is a twelve-time nominee at the Canadian Comedy Awards for Best Female Standup and the prestigious Phil Hartman Award. Kate is also the star of her own hour-long comedy special on CTV and the Comedy Network, “Comedy Now.” Kate Headlines across the country and has performed at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, The Hubcap Comedy Festival, The Kitchener-Waterloo Comedy Festival and LOL.   

Kate has also shared the stage with Lewis Black and Seth Meyers. Hosted events for the former President, Bill Clinton, Barbara Walters and many others. Kate made it to the final round in Toronto for “Last Comic Standing” 2008 season. Kate has 2 Comedy Albums out “House Arrest and Tested Positive” available on all platforms. Her first book the Breast-Feeding Diaries won the iparent media award and her second book called “Second Best Mom - Stories, Tips and Okay Advice” is now available on all platforms.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) What happened one night when she walked into a comedy club after putting her children to bed

2.)  How she used humor even in a solemn situation to make things better

3.) Why humor should be a key strategy you use for business success (even if you're not the one dishing out the funny stuff!)

4.) Her three commandments for using more humor in the workplace

5.) What happened when she sang a Campbell's soup song to a director when she was 18

Website: https://katedavis.ca/

LinkedIn: @KateDavis

 Instagram: katedaviscomic 

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "So often, we're worried about losing our sense of importance. That’s why people are afraid of humor. But the truth is, lightening up allows us to take risks. It helps us think differently, communicate differently, and makes us more receptive."

• "There are ways to bring humor into situations without putting yourself in a vulnerable position. There are plenty of ways to take the risk out of humor."

• “If you're looking for humor in moments, you're going to find humor in those moments.”

• “Laughing is one of the easiest ways to be mindful.”

• “Be yourself and bring that to everything.”

Ready to kick self-doubt to the curb and reclaim your power?

Meet Kathy Caprino—a career coach, former corporate VP, therapist, and Forbes contributor who’s basically done it all.She’s here to drop the truth bombs you need to close those pesky power gaps and level up. Tough feedback? She’s got hacks. Asking for what you deserve? Kathy’s got that covered too. Buckle up, because you're about to learn how to own your power like never before.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) Why having power isn't the "dirty word" you might think it is

2.) The 7 damaging power gaps that hold most women back

3.) Simple changes to how you preface challenging or tough feedback

4.) The thing you need to absolutely do first before asking for what you deserve

5.)  Her powerful, tough-love question: "What if I had the power to shift this?"

  Instagram: @kathycaprino

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kathycaprino

Website - kathycaprino.com

Kathy's podcast - findingbrave.org

Kathy’s Book: The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths to Career Bliss

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• “Don't mess with me. It is not going to go well for you.”

• “You can't do this well if you don't believe you deserve more.”

• “Our communication, our action, our approaches, if they're grounded in what you feel is legitimately deserving, what you legitimately deserve, you're going to be much more compelling.”

• “What can I do to shift this?”

Michelle L. Gardner, Senior Supervising Director of Foundation Relations, is a master at linking dreamers with doers—those who want to make a difference and those who can make it happen.

In this episode, we chat with Michelle about how The 50 Percent Rule is shaping her work and driving real, positive change.

Some of the things you'll hear are:

1.) How her personal brand of TRUST + GRATITUDE impacts her work and success

2.) Her unique approach to using donor needs to fuel positive change

3.) Why she joined The 50% Ruler workgroup

4.) What The 50% Rule means to her and why she thinks it holds so much power

5.) How she recently 50% Ruled something and what came of it

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-l-gardner-cfre-2426542/

Binghamton University: https://www.binghamton.edu/organizations/b-first/michelle-gardner.html  

If you’d like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple “plays” to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie  

To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] 

If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration!

•  Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole)  

•  Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram 

•  Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group 

•    Take our simple, fun and insightful"What’s your workplace superhero name?”quiz

•   Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin’s book,"You Do You (ish)" 

• Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice 

• Work with Us

• Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.

Tweetable Comments

• "If I keep tearing down the scaffolding and starting from zero every time, I'll never get past the halfway point. I need to build on the foundation that came before me—that's how I improve, and that's how we get better."

• "They hired you not to be the person who was here before, but to be yourself—and more. To be that person, plus you."

• "It's about taking the map from someone who's holding it upside down and saying, 'Let's start by turning the map right side up and heading to a place we agree is wonderful, better, or different.'"

• “I am putting my stamp on it and I don't feel apologetic.”