Have you ever wondered what really happens in the moments before your interview even begins? The truth might surprise you - and it could be costing you opportunities.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares three unforgettable interview stories from her years as a recruitment agency CEO - including the one that made her cry.

There's the Senior Art Director who erupted into a profanity-laden tirade over standard paperwork, forcing Trina to leave the room as a shaken junior recruiter. The highly qualified creative professional who put his feet on her desk after being dismissive to office staff. And the promising PR candidate whose constant Apple Watch checking completely derailed what should have been a successful interview.

But not all stories involve disasters. Trina also shares the executive whose thoughtful gesture of gratitude - a personal visit with a handwritten card - still touches her years later. His response demonstrates what professional etiquette is really about: showing others that they matter.

Your interview begins the moment you enter the building and ends the moment you leave. Every interaction, every gesture, every moment of impatience or courtesy is being noticed and evaluated. Trina reveals the practical lessons from each story - from silencing notifications to treating everyone with respect - that will transform how you prepare for interviews.

This episode is essential for anyone preparing for job interviews, early in their career, or wanting to understand what recruiters actually notice during the hiring process.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how professional etiquette can transform your career opportunities.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

Have you ever checked your phone while someone was talking to you, only to realize you missed what they said? That split-second choice is shaping your career in ways you might not expect.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares a surprising story: her husband traded his smartphone for a flip phone, and the transformation was remarkable. More present in conversations, more engaged at work, genuinely more relaxed.

When she shared his story, she discovered an entire movement of Brooklyn Gen Z youth doing the exact same thing - they call themselves "Luddites." Logan Lane started the Luddite Club in 2019, gathering with like-minded teens in Prospect Park every Sunday to read, sketch, and connect face-to-face without digital distractions. What began as a small rebellion has spread to colleges across the United States.

These Gen Z students recognized something profound: when we're constantly performing for an online audience, we lose the ability to be genuinely present with people right in front of us.

And in workplaces where most people are half-present, constantly checking notifications and multitasking through meetings, the person who shows up fully engaged becomes immediately noticeable.

Trina reveals two concrete Luddite-inspired practices you can implement immediately to build the reputation and relationships that lead to promotions.

This episode is essential for anyone who's ever felt enslaved by their phone, struggled to stay focused in meetings, or wants to stand out in a distracted workplace.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how simple presence strategies can transform your professional relationships.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

Have you ever sent an email in the heat of the moment and immediately regretted it? You're not alone - and that split-second decision can cost you more than you realize.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares her most embarrassing professional email mistake - the frustrated follow-up message that cost her a dream job fresh out of college. After nailing an interview with a VP of Marketing at one of Canada's most prominent job search websites, the position was practically hers... until she sent a "strongly worded" email after three weeks of waiting. That one emotional message changed everything.

We've all been there - frustrated by lack of communication, tempted to fire off that email telling someone exactly how we feel. But professional communication isn't about suppressing your emotions; it's about expressing them strategically. Trina reveals three practical strategies that have saved her career countless times since: techniques you can implement today to avoid sending emails you'll regret tomorrow.

This episode is essential for anyone who's ever felt the urge to hit send on an emotional email, struggled with professional communication under pressure, or wants to protect their career from avoidable mistakes.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how simple communication strategies can transform your professional relationships.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

Your colleagues think you don't care about them. And honestly? They might be right. You're nodding when someone mentions their parent's surgery, then immediately pivoting to talk about the client meeting. Two weeks later, you've completely forgotten - but they haven't. They notice.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares the pattern she hears about constantly at networking events: professionals who aren't really present when colleagues talk to them. From wandering eyes during conversations to remembering every project deadline but forgetting the personal details your coworkers share, these subtle signs of not truly listening are quietly destroying your professional relationships.

The good news? Being others-focused isn't about grand gestures or technical skills. Trina reveals three warning signs that show you're not really listening, plus three simple solutions that take just 30 seconds but build relationships that last years. Small moments that create real connection - and make people actually want to work with you.

This episode is essential for anyone who wants to transform their workplace relationships and become the colleague everyone wants on their team.

New episodes every other Thursday. Subscribe and discover how simple acts of genuine presence can accelerate your career.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

Two equally qualified candidates. One got the job, the other didn't. The deciding factor had nothing to do with their resumes or interview answers. What happened in the reception area before the interviews even began revealed everything - and it's probably happening to you right now without you realizing it.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares a story from her recruitment agency days that perfectly captures what Ralph Waldo Emerson said 200 years ago: "What you are shouts so loud in my ears, that I cannot hear what you say." One candidate barely looked up from their phone and curtly dismissed the office manager. The other chatted warmly and acknowledged everyone they passed. Same qualifications. Same interview performance. Completely different character.

Your professional image isn't built in the moments you're consciously crafting it - it's revealed in the moments you don't think anyone's watching. Trina breaks down the Three-Pillar Framework that makes or breaks your professional reputation, including the one pillar most people completely ignore. These unconscious actions are constantly shaping how others perceive your professional value.

This episode is essential for anyone who wants to understand how their unguarded moments are either building or destroying their professional reputation.

New episodes every other Thursday. Subscribe and discover how the moments you think don't matter are the ones that matter most.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

Two weeks after her brother's funeral, close friends who had attended began reaching out about job opportunities and resume advice. It made perfect sense professionally - they knew she ran a recruitment agency. But it opened Trina's eyes to how challenging it is to know when to return to 'business as usual' when someone's grieving.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this deeply personal episode, Trina shares her experience after losing her brother unexpectedly at 40. Some colleagues checked in regularly with genuine support. Others never mentioned him again - perhaps worried about overstepping or unsure if bringing it up would be too painful. Here's the uncomfortable truth: when grief and work intersect, most of us have no idea how to respond appropriately.

Trina reveals three practical approaches that actually make a difference: why acknowledging the loss matters more than perfect words, how to provide long-term support when everyone else has moved on, and how to balance respect for privacy with genuine availability. The workplace can either deepen isolation during life's most difficult passages, or it can provide meaningful connection and support.

This episode is essential for anyone who wants to show up meaningfully for colleagues during difficult moments, leaders navigating team dynamics around loss, or anyone supporting someone through grief.

New episodes every other Thursday. Subscribe and discover how to create spaces where both productivity and humanity coexist.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

A colleague had too much to drink at the company holiday party and made advances toward a younger team member. At an exclusive holiday client dinner celebrating year-end success with the firm's top-spending clients, someone showed up dressed for a nightclub instead of the professional business event it was. These aren't just awkward moments - they're career-defining mistakes that created weeks of uncomfortable aftermath and damaged professional reputations.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares two real stories that perfectly illustrate why holiday party etiquette matters more than ever. These events can be where careers are built or dramatically derailed, often in a single evening. The gossip, the failure to read the room, the drinking disasters - one person's terrible judgment can work itself into the work environment like a contagion.

Trina reveals the four essential rules that will protect your professional reputation when the office lights are dimmed and the music is playing: the two-drink maximum, dressing for the job you want even at parties, making gossip stop with you, and the double thank-you rule that makes you unforgettable to leadership.

This episode is essential for anyone attending workplace holiday gatherings or wanting to navigate the tricky intersection of professional and social with confidence.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how mastering holiday party etiquette can protect the career you've worked so hard to build.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

My teenage daughter called me a "dry texter" - apparently sending "Thanks." with a period makes me sound angry. If this communication gap is happening in our own small family business, imagine what's happening in workplaces where the stakes are much higher.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

In this episode, Trina shares how a simple text exchange exposed the generational communication crisis costing companies their best talent. Gen Z wants emojis and emotive communication to feel connected, while busy leaders want straight-to-the-point messages. When these styles collide, managers question professionalism and younger employees update their LinkedIn profiles.

The solution? Communication code-switching - adapting your style to different contexts and audiences. Trina reveals practical strategies the most successful professionals use to bridge the generational gap impacting team dynamics, retention, and career advancement.

This episode is essential for anyone managing across generations or navigating different communication expectations at work.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how mastering communication code-switching can transform your professional relationships.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

I've witnessed hundreds of business meals that make or break careers - and I'm about to share the 5 dining etiquette rules that separate professionals who win from those who get passed over. Financial services firms, global consulting companies, advertising agencies, and tech companies across every industry are using business meals as part of their final interview process - because what happens at the table matters just as much as what happens in the boardroom.

One HR executive I know watched countless qualified candidates lose opportunities not because of their credentials, but because of what happened at the dining table. Whether you're a junior or senior executive interviewing for your dream role, pitching to prospects, or entertaining key clients, these strategies will give you the confidence to navigate any business meal with professionalism and respect.

Welcome to Boosted – from Unpolished to Promoted. I'm Trina Boos, Founder of Boost Academy of Excellence. As a former recruitment agency CEO who placed thousands of professionals, I now train emerging leaders on the workplace skills that actually get you promoted. In each episode, you'll get actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories. We'll cover the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school.

Subscribe for more workplace etiquette tips that actually matter, and drop your biggest dining etiquette question in the comments below.

New episodes bi-weekly. Join us and discover the unwritten rules that transform your workplace relationships and open doors.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)

Check out our upcoming live dining experience, The Art of Influential Dining: https://www.showpass.com/art-of-influential-dining/

What comes to mind when you hear "workplace etiquette"? Victorian tea parties? Downton Abbey? Old-fashioned rules? That outdated image is exactly what's holding back your career.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school. Hosted by Trina Boos, founder of Boost Academy of Excellence, this show delivers actionable tips to build your professional presence and advance your career through real workplace scenarios and human stories.

Modern workplace etiquette goes beyond traditional protocols - it's built on three foundational principles: consideration, respect, and honesty. These aren't abstract concepts - they're practical tools that transform how people experience working with you and guide your decisions in any professional situation.

Each episode tackles real situations you face every day: how to actually listen in meetings instead of just waiting to talk, why following through on "let's connect" matters, how to write emails that show consideration, when to schedule meetings mindfully, and how to give authentic credit to teammates. You'll learn how to apply these core principles to daily interactions in ways that feel genuine and intentional.

Who is this for? Ambitious professionals, emerging leaders, and anyone navigating modern workplace dynamics. Whether you're in a casual startup or formal corporate environment, hybrid or remote, these principles adapt to any industry and culture.

In a world of rushed emails, half-listened meetings, and transactional interactions, genuine consideration makes you stand out immediately. This isn't about being fake - it's about mastering the career accelerators hiding in plain sight within your daily interactions.

New episodes weekly. Join us and discover the unwritten rules that transform your workplace relationships and open doors.

Boosted is brought to you by Boost Academy of Excellence (boostacademyofexcellence.com).

Music by: In the City

Special thanks to: Shahin Nezhad and Sina Sabouri (advisors)