In this episode of the Career Slay Podcast, host Kelly Poquiz Burke introduces a new format aimed at delivering actionable career and leadership advice. First up for the new year is effective goal setting, exploring three frameworks:

• SMART goals for structure
• OKRs for alignment
• The 3-2-1 framework for maintaining momentum.

There is no perfect framework, and goals should support your life, not consume it. This year isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about leading yourself with intention.

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.

In this episode of Career Slay, host Kelly Poquiz Burke interviews Nicole “Nikki” Ramirez, a growth marketing strategist and personal branding coach who helps professionals and businesses build data-driven, impactful brands. Nikki shares her unconventional journey from journalism into digital marketing, how she landed a TEDx Talk, and what happened after getting laid off from her dream job at Forbes. Determined to take control of her career, Nikki ended up becoming a LinkedIn influencer growing her audience from 2,400 followers to 34,000 within a year. We talk about making bold career moves, overcoming the fear of putting yourself out there, and why it’s crucial to build a personal brand and own your narrative.

To learn more about Nikki’s work, follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolerayeramirez/

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.

In this episode, host Kelly Poquiz Burke interviews marketing and sales executive Jenny Parrish. Jenny shares her inspiring journey from a challenging childhood as the daughter of an immigrant mother to a successful career in the corporate world. She discusses the impact of her mother's work ethic, her early career experiences, and the challenges she faced, including a personal tragedy that shifted her perspective on life and work: the sudden loss of her brother, who died in a car accident alongside actor Paul Walker.

Now as the VP of Sales at Division-D, Jenny discusses the evolution of programmatic advertising, the rise of influencer marketing, and the importance of finding purpose in one's career. Our conversation highlights the importance of resilience, personal growth, and balancing career ambitions with family and emotional well-being.

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.

You don’t need a perfect résumé to land your dream job. You need a powerful story.

In this episode of Career Slay, career development advocate, resume writer, and speaker Steph Gillies joins me to talk about how to make your career path make sense, even if it hasn’t always been linear.

We discuss the importance of exploring various career paths, the role of resumes in job transitions, and how to show up authentically in job applications.

Whether you’ve jumped industries, taken time off, or feel like your experience is “all over the place,” this conversation will help you connect the dots and step into your next chapter with confidence. It’s an inspiring reminder that your career is all about the unique journey, not just the destination of a dream job.

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.

What does self-leadership actually mean?

In this episode of the Career Slay Podcast, host Kelly Poquiz Burke interviews Elizabeth Lotardo, a consultant, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and author of 'Leading Yourself.' They discuss the importance of self-leadership, especially in uncertain times, and how mindset, behaviors, and relationships shape your career. Elizabeth shares practical mindset hacks, the significance of finding joy and meaning in work, and strategies for navigating challenging workplace dynamics. She emphasizes the power of agency in career development and the necessity of creating a fulfilling work experience. Even when you can’t control what’s happening in the economy, you can always lead yourself.

Learn more about Elizabeth’s work at elizabethlotardo.com

Grab a copy of “Leading Yourself” at https://a.co/d/8hPJ5Tm

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.

What does it take to thrive in one of the most high-pressure careers in the world—and then reinvent yourself on the other side of it?

In this episode of the Career Slay Podcast, host Kelly Poquiz Burke sits down with Cathyrine “Lilo” Armandie, retired U.S. Air Force officer turned Founder & CEO of GauxMax Strategies, a brand strategy and PR consulting firm. From flying the F-15E Strike Eagle to commanding hundreds of airmen to launching her own business, Lilo’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, purpose, and growth through discomfort.

Lilo shares her candid story of navigating burnout, identity, and career transition after 20 years of service. She opens up about what it’s like to lead in a male-dominated field, why teamwork is the ultimate “team sport,” and how she’s redefining success on her own terms.

If you’ve ever faced burnout, questioned your path, or wondered how to embrace the unknown with courage, this conversation will inspire you to lead with both grit and grace.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How resilience and adaptability fuel career transitions
• Leadership lessons from the cockpit (and why perfection is never the goal)
• The truth about burnout—and why even high achievers must pause
• Why embracing discomfort is key to growth and fulfillment
• How to redefine success beyond titles and achievements

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Career Slay Podcast 01:52 Cathyrine “Lilo” Armandie: A Journey of Resilience 05:18 From Criminology to Aviation: A Career Shift 10:15 Life as a Wizzo: Training and Responsibilities 12:02 Leadership Lessons from the Military 14:53 Navigating Bias in a Male-Dominated Field 19:03 The Importance of Purpose in Career 23:28 Transitioning to Civilian Life and New Ventures 27:10 Redefining Success: A New Perspective 29:54 Advice for Aspiring Aviators 32:23 Embracing the Unknown: Growth Through Discomfort 34:35 Summing Up a Career: Gratitude and Reflection

Connect with Lilo:

• CEO, GauxMax Strategies
• Host, Lies My Ego Told Me Podcast https://liesmyego.com/

Connect with Kelly:

• Website: careerslay.com
• LinkedIn: Kelly Poquiz Burke
• Instagram: @careerslay

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.

In this episode of the Career Slay podcast, Kelly Poquiz Burke interviews Justin Schneider, the Founder & CEO of Wolf & Shepherd, a hybrid footwear brand redefining comfort in dress shoes.

As a former All-American track and field athlete at the University Notre Dame studying industrial design, Justin discovered his passion for footwear early on, eventually designing shoes for Adidas and New Balance. There, he had a breakthrough—why not bring athletic comfort to dress shoes?

That idea became Wolf & Shepherd. Since 2015, Justin and his wife and co-CEO, Hope, have built the brand into a leader in the space, selling nearly 2 million pairs and expanding their lineup from casual to formal—all with performance-driven comfort at the core.

Justin shares his journey of building a footwear brand and emphasizes the importance of family support, having personal conviction and relentless tenacity as an entrepreneur. He discusses finding alignment between building a business and family life, the vision for the brand's future, and the significance of embracing risk and opportunity. Finally, Justin shares the advice he’d give to his younger self and as well as advice for founders and entrepreneurs.

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.

In this episode of Career Slay, host Kelly Poquiz Burke interviews Milam Miller, a leadership expert, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of The Charisma Craft about career transitions, fulfillment, and authentic leadership.

Episode Highlights

• Milam's Career Journey: From working in tech startups and Fortune 500 companies to becoming an entrepreneur and career coach.
• Finding Fulfillment: Milam discusses how fulfillment comes from within rather than external achievements like titles or material possessions.
• Values Alignment: The importance of working at organizations where you feel a sense of belonging and purpose aligned with your values.
• Career Seasons Framework: Kelly introduces her framework “Sow, Slow, Grow” for understanding different career seasons.
• Transferable Skills: Discussion on how experience doesn't expire and the importance of recognizing transferable skills.

Key Quotes

• "Fulfillment actually comes from within. Fulfillment can come from so many different sources, and fulfillment can change." - Milam Miller
• "Invest in human connection." - Milam Miller
• "Trust yourself, just trust that it will all work out. If you're paying attention to the things you're doing, if you're living with intention, and if you have unwavering self belief, then you're going to figure it out." - Milam Miller

Connect With Us

• Follow @careerslay for more advice on career development, leadership, and professional growth.
• Follow @milam.miller for more insights on charisma and authentic leadership.
• Grab a copy of Milam Miller’s book, The Charisma Craft, Available now on Amazon: https://shorturl.at/0UgOU

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.

Does your ambition fade when you downshift your career to make room for motherhood?

In this episode of the Career Slay Podcast, host Kelly Poquiz Burke interviews Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of the bestselling book, The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids—and Come Back Stronger Than Ever. Neha discusses her journey of redefining success and ambition for women, particularly those navigating motherhood and career pauses. She also shares her personal experiences, the challenges she faced in her career, and how she transformed her career break into a powerful movement that empowers women to embrace their choices and redefine their identities. We discuss her book and dive deeper into the concept of 'Power Pause' and how women can leverage this time for personal growth and fulfillment.

Takeaways

• Neha Rush emphasizes that ambition evolves rather than disappears during career pauses.
• The importance of redefining success on personal terms, especially for mothers.
• Mother Untitled was born from Neha's desire to change the narrative around motherhood and career pauses.
• Women often feel pressured to justify their choices in motherhood and career.
• The concept of 'Power Pause' allows women to explore new interests while stepping back from paid work.
• Networking and community support are crucial during career transitions.
• Self-trust is essential for navigating career and family life.
• Women can maintain their ambitions and interests even while focusing on family.
• The journey from a blog to a book took time and persistence.
• Success is about aligning personal values with professional goals.

Link to The Power Pause Book: https://www.thepowerpause.com/

Follow Neha Ruch on Instagram: @neha_ruch

Book a free coaching discovery call with Kelly at www.careerslay.com

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.

In this episode, Dr. Anthony Randall shares his inspiring journey from a lively childhood being nicknamed “Action Ants” as a kid to a distinguished career as an Army Ranger, chaplain, coach, and bestselling author. He discusses the pivotal moments that shaped his life, including overcoming self-limiting beliefs about his writing and the transformative experiences of combat. Anthony emphasizes the importance of trusting the process of transformation and practicing excellence by aligning passion, purpose, and precision in leadership. He also shares insights from his work as the President and Founder of VanguardXXI, a leadership development company, and the significance of creating high-performance cultures. Finally, we also discuss the importance of maintaining a 'white belt mentality'—a mindset of humility and continuous learning. No matter how seasoned a leader you are, there’s always room for growth.

Check out Vanguard XXI and Anthony's best-selling book Practicing Excellence. 

Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, visit careerslay.com to learn more.