Have you ever been asked "Where are you from?" and felt like there was no simple answer?

In this episode of Boosted, I sit down with Salma Khalaf, a Palestinian refugee born and raised in Lebanon, now building her life in Canada. Salma has never set foot in Palestine. Neither has her father. And at the time of this recording, she holds no passport from any of the three countries that have shaped her identity.

We go deep on one of the most loaded questions in professional settings, why we're told not to ask it, why we ask it anyway, and how to ask it right.

We cover:

• What it is actually like to navigate "Where are you from?" when no single answer is true
• How the question can connect people, or quietly make someone feel like an outsider
• The difference between Canadian and American workplaces when it comes to identity
• The GRACE Framework: a tool for knowing whether to ask, how to ask, and how to receive this question gracefully
• A concept from Salma's culture that stopped me in my tracks: give someone 70 excuses before assuming the worst

This episode is essential for anyone working in a diverse workplace, leading a team, or navigating professional relationships across cultures. If you have ever asked this question without thinking, or avoided it entirely out of fear, this one is for you.

Part of the Boosted Season 2 guest series on the question we avoid, and how to ask it anyway.

New episodes every other Thursday. Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

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

Link to the keynote I reference in this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bndHmWza7ZW6J2yodejoo?si=bpI7GM41RwKzX5QtUo72BA

The GRACE Framework: https://boostacademyofexcellence.com/cibc/

Music by: In the City

Have you ever asked someone "Where are you from?" and watched their face light up - or watched them quietly shut down? Have you ever wondered whether that question, asked with the best intentions, might still be doing harm? Or felt the discomfort of not knowing whether to ask at all?

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.

To kick off Season 2, Trina shares the most personal keynote of her career - delivered live to nearly 1,000 professionals at CIBC's International Professionals Network Signature Event. The topic? A single question that divides people almost perfectly down the middle. Asked well, it builds genuine connection. Asked poorly, it can make someone feel reduced to a category, othered, like they'll never quite belong.

Trina was told by etiquette experts, DEI practitioners, and HR professionals alike: never ask it. And yet her own experience - as an immigrant from Trinidad who has lived across multiple countries and cultures - told a very different story. So she set out to explore the nuance most people skip past entirely. When does this question connect? When does it divide? And how do you navigate it with care, whether you're the one asking or the one being asked?

In this episode, Trina walks through real stories from her own life - including her late father's extraordinary gift for human connection, a moment that went sideways and then beautifully right, and a colleague whose own answer to this question would require a whiteboard and forty minutes. She also introduces the GRACE Framework, her five-part practical guide for navigating one of the most powerful - and most complicated - questions in professional life.

This episode is essential for anyone working on diverse teams, leaders looking to build genuine cultural connection at work, immigrants and international professionals who have lived this question their entire careers, and anyone who has ever wondered whether a simple question could mean so much more than it seems.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

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

Music by: In the City

Have you ever watched someone walk into a room and instantly lose the room - before they said a single word? Or felt that quiet shift the moment someone checked their phone during introductions? Or wondered why a meeting that looked promising on paper fell flat before it even got started?

First impressions are made in seven seconds. And most professionals have no idea what they're actually communicating in that time.

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 breaks down what a first impression actually is, what it costs when it goes wrong, and the one element most professionals never think about - before they ever walk in the door.

This episode is essential for anyone stepping into a high-stakes meeting, a new role, or a professional relationship they want to get right from the start.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

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 passed over a candidate because something felt "off" - only to realize you couldn't quite put your finger on what it was? Eye contact feels like one of the most instinctive signals we read in professional life. But most of us have never stopped to ask where that instinct actually comes from.

Boosted is the podcast that reveals the unwritten rules of professional success that nobody teaches you in school.

Hosted by Trina Boos, founder and CEO 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 what she discovered while researching eye contact for a workshop she was developing. Much of what is written about the topic comes from a North American lens. And once she saw that gap, she couldn't unsee it. There is so much more than meets the eye, and the professional standard most of us have been applying without question is costing people more than we realize.

This episode is essential for hiring managers and HR professionals who want to examine what their evaluation standards are actually measuring, leaders who work with diverse teams and want to show up more effectively, and professionals who have ever received eye contact feedback and weren't sure what to do with it.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

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 watched a capable, motivated employee freeze the moment the phone rings? Or noticed a new hire trailing off into silence at the end of every call, leaving the customer wondering if the line dropped? Or felt that quiet frustration when someone your age hangs up without so much as a goodbye? Phone skills, real ones, are quietly disappearing from the modern workplace. And most of us haven't stopped to ask why.

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 what she's hearing from employers across industries. A retail store owner who gave her team scripts, printed transcripts, and step-by-step notes, only to watch every call end in awkward silence. A 21-year-old in university administration who picks up the phone 50 to 100 times a day and is met with nothing but background noise. A 23-year-old banker who finds it jarring when callers her own age hang up mid-sentence without a word. These aren't one-off stories. They're a pattern, and Trina wanted to bring it to you directly.

Here is the thing: this is not a motivation problem or a values problem. It's a practice gap, and once you understand exactly how it happened, the path forward becomes clear. The household landline was a training ground nobody appreciated until it was gone. Asynchronous communication replaced real-time conversation as the default. And now AI is adding a whole new layer of hesitation around picking up the phone at all. Trina breaks down why all of this happened, why it matters more than ever as automation takes over routine work, and the three practical approaches that actually build phone confidence, for individuals and teams alike.

This episode is essential for managers who want to understand what's really behind the phone anxiety they're seeing on their teams, early-career professionals who want a communication edge that most of their peers simply don't have, and anyone who leads, hires, or trains in an industry where the phone still matters.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

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 a carefully crafted proposal, followed up with a warm message, then a phone call, then one more thoughtful note - and heard absolutely nothing back? Or reconnected with someone at a conference who seemed genuinely excited to work with you, only to be met with complete silence the moment you followed up? Professional ghosting is one of those behaviours that affects almost everyone in professional life, and yet it rarely gets examined with the honesty and nuance it deserves.

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 story of an HR leader who approached her at a conference with such enthusiasm she nearly dropped the business card being thrust into her hand. "We have to connect. This is exactly what my organization needs." Trina returned to her office energized, followed up warmly, and heard nothing. Weeks turned into months. It is a story most professionals will recognize immediately, and it is what prompted her to bring this topic to you directly.

Here is the thing: most people who ghost significantly underestimate the ripple effect of their silence. The person on the other end is not just waiting for an answer. They are in limbo, replaying the conversation, unable to move forward. And a lot of professional ghosting comes down to one thing: nobody taught us how to deliver difficult news gracefully. Trina breaks down the real skill gap behind ghosting, shares simple phrases that make closing the loop easier than you think, and walks you through exactly what to do when you are the one being ghosted.

This episode is essential for professionals who want to build a reputation for integrity and clear communication, leaders who set the tone for how their teams follow up with candidates and collaborators, or anyone who has ever felt the sting of being left without an answer.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

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 joined what you thought was a casual networking call, only to find yourself suddenly facing a panel of executives you weren't expecting? Or reconnected with someone over coffee, only to realize later that the "friendly catch-up" was actually competitive intelligence gathering?

Meeting transparency is one of those professional etiquette rules nobody explicitly teaches you, and yet breaking it can cost you relationships you spent years building.

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 story of a consultant who accepted what was described as a friendly networking call, only to be ambushed by three executives conducting an unpaid consulting session. No warning. No context. Just an immediate and irreversible erosion of trust. Trina experienced almost the exact same thing recently, and it is what prompted her to bring this topic to you directly.

Here is the thing: these transparency violations rarely feel like a big deal to the person doing them. A last minute surprise guest. A social call disguised as a business meeting. A casual reconnection that turns out to be competitive intelligence gathering. But on the receiving end, the damage is instant. And word travels fast. Trina breaks down five practical principles for protecting your professional relationships, and shares exactly what to say if you ever find yourself on the receiving end of an ambush meeting.

This episode is essential for professionals who want to build sustainable networks based on mutual respect, leaders setting the tone for how their team conducts meetings, or anyone who has ever felt misled by a meeting that turned out to be something entirely different.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

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 sized someone up based on what they were wearing before they even opened their mouth? Or felt out of place at a professional event because your appearance didn't match the room? Professional presence is one of the most talked about career skills, and yet most people are only thinking about a fraction of what it actually means.

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 moment from a packed networking event where a man in athletic shorts, a fitted t-shirt, and running shoes was commanding the attention of an entire room full of suited professionals. Her first instinct was to question his choice. But as she watched people gravitate toward him, she realized he understood professional presence better than almost anyone else there. He turned out to be the owner of a successful chiropractic and physiotherapy clinic, and his appearance wasn't careless. It was completely intentional, perfectly aligned with his professional identity, and reinforcing his expertise before he said a single word.

Here's the thing: most professionals think professional presence is about following a dress code. But it goes so much deeper than that. Trina breaks down the three pillars of professional image, appearance, words, and actions, and explains why all three need to align authentically with who you are and what you do. Research shows that professionals who cultivate their image consistently earn 20% more than their peers. And with so many companies calling people back to the office, presence now needs to translate across every setting, in person, on video calls, and at networking events.

This episode is essential for professionals navigating the return to office, anyone who has ever felt unsure about how to show up authentically in professional settings, or leaders who want to build a reputation that opens doors before they even speak.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

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 during a meeting and watched the speaker's energy completely shift? Or felt dismissed when someone glanced at their screen while you were presenting? As companies mandate returns to the office, they're confronting technology habits we developed during remote work - and some, like JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon, are responding with complete device bans.

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 moment she's still embarrassed about years later. During a strategy meeting, mid-presentation, she reached for her phone - just for a second, just to check one thing. When she looked up, she watched her employee's shoulders drop and her voice lose confidence. That split second communicated a message Trina never intended: "What's on my screen is more important than what you're saying." The impact was devastating, even though her intention was innocent.

Here's the thing: Jamie Dimon's blanket ban on devices addresses a real problem - research shows we check our phones every 37 minutes, guaranteeing disruption in every meeting. But one-size-fits-all policies miss something crucial: context matters, and professional judgment matters even more. Trina shares the three-meeting framework she developed at her former recruitment agency, where device policies were intentionally different for status meetings (laptops open), strategy sessions (devices away), and team building (intentional tech use). She also reveals the simple equation that helps professionals navigate device etiquette regardless of company policy: Purpose + Expectations = Protocol.

This episode is essential for professionals returning to in-person work, leaders setting team norms around technology, or anyone who wants to build a reputation as someone who shows up fully present - the kind of person who gets promoted.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Subscribe and discover how intentional presence creates the career differentiator that sets you apart.

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 felt uncomfortable when someone treats a café like their private office? Or worried that your work calls might be disrupting the people around you? Remote work has given us incredible flexibility - but it's also created situations we're all still learning to navigate. 

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 witnesses an uncomfortable moment unfold in real-time. While reading Emily Post's book on business etiquette, she watched a woman conduct a loud business call in a crowded café - speaking as if the space was her private office. When a polite elderly gentleman asked if she could speak more softly so he could hear his wife, the woman's response shocked everyone: she stood up, still on her call, and yelled at him for interrupting her meeting. The gentleman returned to his table visibly shaken, and the entire café atmosphere shifted. 

Here's the thing: that woman was probably stressed, overwhelmed, or having a difficult day. We've all been there. But this moment revealed something bigger - we're all still figuring out how to work from public spaces respectfully. The good news? Being a productive remote worker and a considerate café guest aren'tmutually exclusive. Trina shares nine guidelines across three categories that help her navigate café work with confidence: managing noise and space, supporting the business, and respecting fellow café-goers. 

This episode is essential for remote workers who use cafés as workspaces, anyone navigating the etiquette of public working environments, or professionals who want to be more thoughtful about shared spaces. 

New episodes every other Thursday. 

Subscribe and discover how considerate workplace habits benefit everyone - including you. 

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)