Did you know that women typically apply for jobs only when they meet 100% of the qualifications, while men apply when they hit just 60%? Even more concerning, nearly 80% of women struggle with low self-esteem and shy away from self-advocacy at work.

This isn’t a competence gap. It’s a confidence gap.

I sat down with Confidence Coach Simone Knego to discuss how women can start chipping away at these statistics by building unshakeable self-confidence.

Simone is a best-selling author, two-time TEDx speaker, and the co-host of the podcast Her Unshakeable Confidence. But her journey wasn't a straight line. For years, she battled her inner critic of self-doubt rooted in past trauma and the pressures of comparison.

From raising six children to summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, Simone discovered that confidence isn't something you are born with; it’s something you build in the messy, chaotic moments of everyday life. In this episode, she shares the raw truth about the cost of under-confidence and the practical tools she used to go from unsure to unshakeable.

Simone teaches us:

• The REAL Method: A four-step framework (Respect yourself, Embrace your failures, Ask for what you want, Live without limits) to build lasting self-esteem.
• The "Control-Alt-Delete" Hack: A mental strategy to identify false narratives.
• How to rewire your brain: Why positive affirmations work scientifically and the specific "5 I's" Simone uses every morning.
• Reframing Imposter Syndrome: How to stop justifying your existence by dropping the word "just" (e.g., "I'm just a mom") and why feeling underqualified is often a sign of growth.

Connect with Host Kristen Rocco

On Substack: https://kristenrocco.substack.com/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco/

Take the listener feedback survey: https://forms.gle/hBBKkKFVfbfzCFREA

Connect with Guest Simone Knego

Website: simoneknego.com

Book: Real Confidence: A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakeable at realconfidencebook.com

Simone's reflection on how climbing Mount Kilimanjaro changed her life: https://simoneknego.com/how-climbing-a-mountain-can-change-your-life/

I'm so excited to be joined by a special co-host for this episode, Tyler Hakes. Tyler is the principal at the content marketing agency, Optimist, and we’ve been collaborating on a new project!

In this “How We Built It” episode, Tyler and I pull back the curtain on our recent collaboration, where we launched a new methodology for content marketing called the Authority Moat Model. We show you how you can turn industry chaos—like the disruption we've all seen from AI—into a new market opportunity.

Listen in to get the practical, three-part framework I developed from our process. We'll walk you through how to spot a trend, diagnose the real problem or unmet need it creates, and architect an innovative solution. This is a real-world case study for making a bold move inside of your bold move, whether you're an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur.

And if marketing is your business, you’re in luck. We explain how our Authority Moat Model builds compounding authority and tangible ROI for your brand, inspiring trust with your audience in a way that AI never can.

Connect with Host Kristen Rocco

On Substack: https://kristenrocco.substack.com/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco/

Take the listener feedback survey: https://forms.gle/hBBKkKFVfbfzCFREA

Connect with Co-host Tyler Hakes

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-hakes/

Read our Authority Moat Model Transformation Narrative: https://www.yesoptimist.com/authority-moat-model/

Most people learn the rules and play the game. But what happens when you reject the rules everyone else accepts? For Michelle Beyo, CEO and founder of Finavator, rejecting convention started early. In this episode, Michelle shares the pivotal moment her entrepreneurial parents told her they didn't believe in university and wouldn't pay for it, advising her to “go work somewhere and learn something practical" instead.

This bold rejection of a standard path led her to a year in Australia, taking jobs from barista to marketer to working on a camel farm. That experience taught her to be agile and fail forward —a lesson that would define her career.

Michelle walks us through the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, including the "trough of sorrow". She reveals how the catastrophic Silicon Valley Bank crash in 2023 became the catalyst for her biggest pivot: creating the "Future of Finance Masterclass."

Join us to learn how to ride the highs and lows of any Bold Move journey and find the courage to fail forward.

Connect with Host Kristen Rocco

On Substack: https://kristenrocco.substack.com/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco/

Take the listener feedback survey: https://forms.gle/hBBKkKFVfbfzCFREA

Connect with Guest Michelle Beyo

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellebeyo/

Get a discount on Michelle’s “Future of Finance Masterclass” with code: BoldMoves25 https://www.finavatorfuturefinancemasterclass.com/offers/moerwgYe?coupon_code=BOLDMOVES25

Imagine your workday begins by delivering the world's most sensitive intelligence directly to the president of the United States.

Sounds like a job for fictional characters like Jack Ryan, Carrie Mathieson (Homeland), ​​Owen Hendricks (The Recruit).

But no. That was the reality for my guest, Kelly McGannon, during her 20-year career with the CIA.

She delivered sensitive intelligence to two US presidents. Kelly's work profoundly shaped US policy, earning her the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit citation twice. More than an intelligence strategist, Kelly bridges her high-stakes career with a deep physical intuition honed through years of martial arts and practicing in high-stakes scenarios at the CIA.

Kelly is one of the most exceptional storytellers I’ve met, and these are juicy! She shares how she got recruited to the CIA (does the gray man actually exist?), her boldest, hallmark moment leading to historic changes at the Agency, the myths surrounding the CIA, and how she initiated significant wellness programs within the Agency to cope with the psychological toll of her role.

Kelly teaches us:

• How to remain anchored in your core values while navigating a demanding career and making bold moves.
• A practical technique you can use today for maintaining your calm in high-stress situations.
• How to tap into body intelligence for decision-making around your bold move.
• Why – not how – you should make a bold move.

Push play now to be debriefed on bold moves from a former CIA analyst. I promise, you can't miss this one!

Connect with Host Kristen Rocco

On Substack: https://kristenrocco.substack.com/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco/

Take the listener feedback survey: https://forms.gle/hBBKkKFVfbfzCFREA

Connect with Guest Kelly McGannon

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellymcgannon/

We're live on Substack! Join us: kristenrocco.substack.com

Being the first is bold. No one has gone before you. There is no playbook. You are charting the course, sometimes confidently because of your immense conviction and sometimes courageously because your gut sense is leading you.

Being the first… that’s the theme of this episode with Ashley Cheretes, Director of Gen AI at Prudential Financial.

When Ashley applied for a new director of Gen AI role at her organization, this is exactly what she confronted: an interesting job description in an emerging space that no one in her organization–or anywhere else for that matter–had ever done before.

When you make your bold move, you’re going to be the first in some capacity. The steps to achieve your vision will look blurry.

I asked Ashley how she is navigating being the first to help us all in our Bold Move firsts. From keeping a "kudos folder" to overcome bad days to figuring out how to overcome her stakeholders’ hesitations about a new technology, she shares practices you can embrace to help you confidently lead and navigate the path when no one has gone before you.

Ashley teaches us her tips for:

• Overcoming imposter syndrome.
• What to do when you don’t have all the answers.
• How to break through the status quo to influence change
• And much more

This episode is a powerful two-for-one. You'll get actionable advice on the skills needed to be first in your bold move, alongside critical insights into AI from one of the industry's foremost experts. Ashley shares the same expertise she's brought to stages at Adobe Summit, The AI Leaders Forum, Boston University, and Vanguard, making this a can't-miss conversation.

Stay tuned until the end for her rapid-fire answers to your pressing questions about AI:

• Where do you see AI being the most effective? What problems is it solving for businesses?
• What are AI’s limitations?
• What are the AI courses you recommend?
• What’s the predictive capability of gen AI?
• What’s Agentic AI?

Connect with Host Kristen Rocco

On Substack: https://kristenrocco.substack.com/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco/

Take the listener feedback survey: https://forms.gle/hBBKkKFVfbfzCFREA

Connect with Guest Ashley Cheretes

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleycheretes/

We're live on Substack! Join us: kristenrocco.substack.com

Bold Movers, I am excited for you to meet Sherehan Ross, VP of Marketing at Modus Planning in this episode!

As we transition into exploring a new question this season, how do you continue to be bold inside of your bold move, I knew Sherehan would be the perfect guest to kick off this season’s interview series!

She has just started her next bold move, transitioning from fractional marketing consulting in her solo business to an in-house role where she’s leading the full marketing function from A to Z.

She’s made the leap, and now it’s game time. How does she keep her bold vision in focus?

Reflecting on our conversation, it struck me that Sherehan laid out a universal playbook for the first 90 days of any bold move, whether you're in a corporate role, an entrepreneur, or on a personal journey.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The foundational framework that elevates her vision: “Learn, Plan, Do.” It’s a roadmap to guide clarity, focus, and decisions
• Why true boldness is about delivering value, not always being polarizing.
• How Sherehan's commitment to upskilling guides her to new bold thinking and ideas
• The mindset you need to keep the momentum going

And lots more, so tune in now!

Did you hear our big announcement? I'm so excited to officially launch our new community and resource hub, The Bold Moves Substack channel! This is where we’ll connect, support, and elevate each other as we navigate our bold moves together! Join me and over 100 other Bold Movers there: https://kristenrocco.substack.com/

Connect with Host Kristen Rocco

On Substack: https://kristenrocco.substack.com/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco/

Take the listener feedback survey: https://forms.gle/hBBKkKFVfbfzCFREA

Connect with Guest Sherehan Ross

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherehanross/

Take Sherehan’s course on “Using AI to Create Buyer Personas”: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/using-ai-to-develop-buyer-personas

We're live on Substack! Join us: kristenrocco.substack.com

Hey Bold Mover! It’s your host, Kristen Rocco, and welcome to the Season 4 premiere!

For three seasons, we’ve asked the question, “How did you know?” We focused on the toolkit, characteristics, and mindset it takes to make a bold move. But what happens after? What happens when you find yourself in the messy, unglamorous middle of your bold move, wondering, “Okay… what now?” “How do I navigate my bold move now?”

That feeling is why, in this season, we’re going deeper. We're talking about how to build and maintain the momentum that keeps you going when the initial excitement fades and the real work begins.

In this season premiere, I’m sharing the powerful mindset for keeping your momentum going when you’re in the thick of it: the decision to Rise to the Occasion.

I’m also taking you behind the mic to share how I’ve been applying this framework in my own business—from navigating a new collaboration to leveling up my own skills to meet my ambitions.

Tune in to discover the three-part framework for rising to the occasion in your bold move!

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to apply a 3-part framework for Rising to the Occasion to keep your momentum going inside your bold move
• Why preparedness is the thing that helps you overcome self-doubt.
• How to put fear in the passenger seat to drive closer toward your goals
• Why embracing a growth mindset is more powerful than waiting for perfection.

PLUS, a huge announcement! I'm so excited to officially launch our new community and resource hub, The Bold Moves Substack channel! This is where we’ll connect, support, and elevate each other as we navigate our bold moves together!

If you’re dreaming of, planning, or already navigating your bold move and need the tools and community to keep going, this episode is your starting point!

Connect with Host Kristen Rocco

On Substack: https://kristenrocco.substack.com/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco/

For three seasons, we've been on a journey to uncover what it takes to make a bold move–and this season sure did deliver!

We heard from an incredible lineup of authors, activists, leadership strategists, business owners, and creators who pulled back the curtain on their most pivotal moments. In the season 3 recap, I’m reflecting on those moments and lessons from each of this season’s Bold Movers.

But that’s not all. Stick around to the end to hear about the exciting ‘what’s next!’ for the Bold Moves: How Did You Know podcast. I’m asking a brand new question as we head into Season 4!

In This Episode, I Reflected on the Biggest Lessons From:

• Author Andrea Bartz and her episode “Just Write Already!” (Jan 28, 2025)
• Business owner Scott Merritt and his episode “Laid off? Low job satisfaction? Facing a career setback? Second Act Careers Help You Find Your Purpose (Feb. 11, 2025)
• Leadership Strategist Sarah Schneider and her episode “Why You Need to Shake Up Your Identity to Make a Bold Move” (Feb. 25, 2025)
• Creator Mary McGreevy of her episode “Top Tips from Living a Bold Life…from Dead People!” (March 11, 2025)
• Me, your Host and Business Owner, Kristen Rocco of my episode “A Bold Mindset Is Everything: 5 Mindset Shifts for Success That Changed My Life” (March 25)
• Activist Sandy Rosenthal of her episode “Exposing the Hurricane Katrina Levee Cover-Up” (April 8, 2025)
• Author and Business Owner Sarah Alaimo of her episode “This Is Way More Than a Sobriety Story” (April 22, 2025)
• NICU Family Support Coordinator Jenna Kolodziejczak of her episode “How Jenna Landed Her Dream Job with the Bold Moves Recipe” (May 20, 2025)
• Leadership Coach Robyn Woods of her episode “Your Blueprint for Pivoting to Your Bold Move with Intention, Clarity, and Courage” (June 3, 2025)

Love the Show? Support My Bold Move!

This podcast is a one-woman production, driven by my deep passion for championing bold moves and helping you see your greatest potential. If these stories have inspired you, here are two simple ways you can support the show—and they mean the world!

1. Leave a Rating & Review: For an independent show, your rating and review are the most powerful way to help strengthen this show. It takes just 30 seconds and helps others discover these Bold Moves conversations.
2. Follow for Season 4: Hit the "Follow" or "Subscribe" button in your podcast app to get notified the moment the new season drops. You won't want to miss what's next!

See you in Season 4!

Get in touch with me, your host, Kristen Rocco

Join the Bold Moves Podcast Club

Visit my Website

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow me on Instagram

Do you feel that undeniable nudge for a change, a sense that you're ready for something different but aren't quite sure how to take the lead on that internal call to pivot?

It's a common crossroads, and one my guest, Robyn Woods, helps people master. As a Leadership Development Consultant and the visionary founder of Wine & Mastermind, Robyn specializes in equipping leaders like you and me to navigate change with intention, clarity, and courage. In this episode, she introduces us to her powerful concept of Pivot Leadership.

Tune in to discover:

• Robyn's personal pivot journey and the surprising realization that stopped her from pursuing what seemed like the obvious next step.
• The common obstacles and fears that hold so many of us back from making a pivot, even when we feel that visceral pull.
• What "Pivot Leadership" means and how it transforms a simple change into an act of intentionality and ownership.
• Robyn’s four core pivot points – "It's Not Working," "Ready for a Change," "Health Impact," and "New Opportunities." We break each one down with personal stories (I share some of my own "how did you know" moments here too!) to help you use them as an evaluation tool for your journey.
• Answers to YOUR questions about pivots:
  • How can you actually weave pivots into your life?
  • How do you better listen to that "unsettling feeling" and know when it's time to take action?
  • The game-changing difference between "supporters" and "elevators" for your pivots, and the best way to activate both

If you're ready to understand when to pivot on a deeper level and lead yourself towards your next bold move, this conversation with Robyn is for you! Robyn offers actionable advice and thought-provoking questions to help you move from simply experiencing a pivot to truly leading it.

Connect with host Kristen Rocco

Join Bold Moves Podcast Club: https://www.kristenrocco.com/bold-moves-podcast-club

Website: kristenrocco.com

Linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco/

Instagram.com/kristenrocco

Connect with guest Robyn Woods

Website: https://wineandmastermind.com/

linkedin.com/in/robynwoodshr/

Ever wonder how to navigate profound life changes and come out stronger? This week on Bold Moves: How Did You Know? recorded live and in person, my dear friend Jenna Kolodziejczak shares her incredible story of doing just that. After the traumatic premature birth of her twin sons and a grueling NICU experience, Jenna faced a total loss of her old life and identity.

But this isn't just a story of hardship; it's a masterclass in reinvention using the Bold Moves Recipe: Desire, Who, and Action. Listen as Jenna reveals how she moved from a place of deep personal struggle and "survival mode" to rediscovering her purpose. You'll hear how a persistent Desire to help others in similar situations began to take root, how she found her Who through crucial support and connections, and the brave Action steps she took – from therapy and volunteering to strategically re-entering the workforce.

If you're curious about how to turn life's biggest challenges into fuel for your most purposeful chapter or how the Bold Moves Recipe works in action, this episode is a must-listen. Jenna’s journey to her dream job supporting NICU families is proof that it’s possible.

If you are ready for a change, ready to say goodbye to the doubts that keep your dreams on hold, you’re going to love this episode where Jenna shares how she made her dream job a reality.

Episode Resources

Want to dive deeper into the Bold Moves Recipe?

Jenna's story is a powerful illustration of the Bold Moves Recipe in action. If you're inspired to apply this framework to your own life:

• Listen to the full episode where I describe the Bold Moves Recipe and its 3 ingredients in detail while coaching you on how to apply them to your life: https://www.kristenrocco.com/podcast/episode/26c79328/curious-how-to-make-bold-moves-discover-the-bold-moves-recipe
• Need personalized support to apply the Bold Moves Recipe to make the change you desire? Contact me at [email protected] and schedule a Bold Moves coaching session.
• Share this episode with one person you know who needs support and encouragement in a moment of hardship or change.

Connect with host Kristen Rocco

Join Bold Moves Podcast Club: https://www.kristenrocco.com/bold-moves-podcast-club

Website: kristenrocco.com

Linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco/

Instagram.com/kristenrocco

Connect with guest Jenna Kolodziejczak

Linkedin.com/in/jenna-kolodziejczak-6777732b4