Episode 33 | Host: Hazel Ann | Clearly Becoming · Guest Episode

In this episode, Hazel Ann chats with Ashley Spiliapulu about breaking away from traditional career trajectories, embracing multiple interests, and cultivating confidence to advocate for oneself. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for ambitious individuals navigating a chaotic career landscape. 

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• Ashley shares her diverse career from PR to journalism to founding inclusive communities

• The misconception that one must choose a single passion early on

• How sport and a growth mindset foster resilience and confidence

• The importance of embracing multiple interests for happiness and fulfillment

💬 QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"You don't need clarity to be ambitious. You need permission to move before the picture is complete."

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Challenging the idea that ambition and confusion are mutually exclusive

00:29 - Introducing Ashley Spiliapulu and her eclectic career journey

00:43 - The nonlinear path: doing multiple passions simultaneously

01:12 - How to navigate societal pressures to pick a single career early

02:02 - Ashley explains her focus on sport and subsequent transition at 22

02:41 - The stereotype of sticking to one career and why it's outdated

03:29 - How trying multiple avenues boosts confidence through experience

03:52 - The importance of resilience when going against societal norms

04:29 - The significance of sports in developing discipline and belief in oneself

05:01 - Ashley's move from sport to PR and how she broke into the industry

05:25 - Overcoming the experience barrier through internships and proactive effort

06:36 - The myth that you need formal credentials to get started

06:43 - The value of taking initiative, even without perfect experience

07:46 - How to showcase your skills and attitude for new roles

08:06 - The gender dynamics in self-promotion and confidence in the workplace

09:10 - The importance of playing the "confidence game" to get ahead

10:16 - Using a confident alter ego to navigate intimidating environments

10:57 - The role of visual branding and consistency in creating opportunities

11:45 - The impact of affirmations and embodying the person you want to be

12:11 - How to merge your current traits with your aspirational self-image

12:29 - The value of effort, attitude, and energy over pure talent

12:38 - Taking immediate action when inspired — a story of seizing ideas

13:42 - How self-talk influences belief and performance

14:24 - Can ambition be learned or is it innate?

15:08 - The misconception that you must have clarity to be ambitious

15:30 - Navigating undirected ambition and embracing multiple passions

16:04 - When ambition feels overwhelming and how to manage it

17:09 - How having varied interests fosters resilience and happiness

18:30 - The story behind Sunny's Run Club and its mission of inclusivity

22:10 - How Ashley started running and uses it for exploration and connection

23:01 - Reframing labels: becoming a runner instead of saying "not an athlete"

23:34 - The impact of sports psychology on confidence and performance

26:09 - Embracing rejection as a natural part of growth and self-discovery

28:27 - Teasing part two: How to effectively pitch yourself and the power of community

RESOURCES

• Agenda Setting Theory

• Power of Talk

RELEVANT EPISODES

• Stop Waiting to Feel Motivated. Do this instead 

• How to Become Before you Believe it 

LET'S CONNECT

This is your reminder that you can be ambitious and confused.

DM Hazel Ann on Instagram your ONE non-negotiable habit and the WORD that describes who you are clearly becoming.

Connect with Ash:

• Instagram: @ashspili 

• TikTok: @ashleighspili

• YouTube: @ashspili 

Connect with Hazel Ann: 

• Instagram: @clearlybecoming

• TikTok: @clearlybecoming_

• YouTube: youtube.com/@clearlybecoming

Next episode: The science of being a great teammate — what it actually takes to show up for a team and yourself at the same time.

Episode 32

Host: Hazel Ann | Clearly Becoming · Solo Episode

Most people think leadership means having all the answers, commanding the room, or projecting total confidence. This episode is about what leadership actually is — and why that myth might be what's keeping you from stepping into it.

In this episode, Hazel Ann breaks down the real science of influence, why hyper-awareness is a cognitive strength (not a liability), and what it looks like to build a leadership identity before you have the title.

Career is the vehicle. Becoming is the destination.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• What leadership really is — and why the traditional model keeps ambitious people small

• Why influence is a science rooted in credibility, trust, and relatability — not a personality type

• How hyper-awareness and emotional regulation are learnable cognitive skills

• The Approach Inhibition Theory and what power actually does to empathy

• How to start practicing leadership in the environment you're already in

• A simple framework to begin building your leadership identity — no title required

💬 QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"You don't have to be the loudest to influence — you have to be the most aware."

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – The misconception: leadership isn't about being the loudest in the room

00:25 – Who this episode is for and what we're actually building today

00:47 – Rethinking what leadership looks like — and where that old picture came from

01:44 – Leadership as leverage: internal resources, external environment

02:55 – Navigating uncertainty — you don't need to have it figured out to lead

03:54 – What happens when leaders ignore the room around them

04:43 – Valuing people at every level and building organizations that actually include people

05:45 – Hyper-awareness: why it's a cognitive strength, not a flaw

06:37 – Approach Inhibition Theory — how power reduces empathy, and what to do about it

07:40 – Perspective-taking and emotional intelligence as leadership tools

08:49 – Trait leadership theory — what's fixed, what's learnable

09:40 – Self-awareness, empathy, and discipline as the core three

10:07 – Influence as a science: credibility, trust, and relatability

10:56 – How connection and credibility actually build influence

12:00 – The L'Oréal/UNESCO HIV awareness case study — what trust makes possible

13:16 – How to practice influence right now, in the role you already have

13:34 – Knowing your signals — self-regulation before you can lead others

14:37 – Building emotional regulation to create psychological safety

16:07 – Recognizing your triggers as a leadership practice

17:29 – The power of connecting others — being a bridge, not just a builder

18:39 – Using your network and existing strengths as leadership assets

19:10 – Leadership is a journey — not a title, not a moment

19:55 – Developing your leadership qualities with what you already have

20:20 – Self-belief and transformational leadership

20:41 – Clarity Round: unlearning myths, naming your edge, committing to one action

22:03 – Community CTA + next episode preview: teamwork and being a great teammate

RESOURCES

• Emotional Intelligence — Daniel Goleman

• Trait Leadership Theory

• Big Five Personality Traits

• Harvard Business Review on Influence

• Approach Inhibition Theory (Keltner, Gruenfeld & Anderson, 2003)

RELEVANT EPISODES

• How to Advocate for Yourself 

• How to extract value from your experiences 

LET'S CONNECT

This is your reminder that you can be ambitious and confused.

DM Hazel Ann on Instagram your ONE non-negotiable habit and the WORD that describes who you are clearly becoming.

• Instagram: @clearlybecoming

• TikTok: @clearlybecoming_

• YouTube: youtube.com/@clearlybecoming

How to Build Habits and Routines That Actually Stick When You're in Your 20s and Figuring It All Out

Host: Hazel Ann | Clearly Becoming 

If you've ever started the week with a clear plan and ended it wondering what happened, this episode is for you. 

Hazel Ann breaks down why motivation alone is a trap, and what the science actually says about how high-performing people stay consistent when life gets messy. This isn't hustle culture. This is about what it takes to build routines that move you forward, even when you have no idea who you're becoming yet.

You don't rise to the level of your goals. You fall back to the level of your systems.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• 40% of your daily actions are already running on autopilot

• James Clear framework: goals are the destination, systems are the road

• What triggers motivation (hint: it's not a vision board)

• Vague goals drain your energy — and what to do instead

• Keystone habit concept and why it's the gateway discipline

• The rebound effect and how to break all-or-nothing thinking for good

• Why difficulty is a feature—hard things build mental strength

• Framework to audit your habits and upgrade your systems over time

Chapters

00:00 - Why systems impact our results more than we realise 

00:38 - Goals vs. systems: Building habits to reach your dreams 

1:20 - How experimenting with routines shapes who you are 

2:00 - The importance of flexibility in routines and dealing with life hurdles

2:37 - Reese Witherspoon’s insight on talents versus dreams 

4:01 - The significance of having a system alongside ambitions 

5:00 - Focusing on daily actions to identify effective systems 

5:29 - Neuroscience of habits: How the brain automates goals 

6:12 - James Clear on goals as destinations and systems as the route 

6:29 - The difference systems make in turning aspirations into achievements 

6:53 - Motivation triggers: specificity, self-efficacy, autonomy 

7:12 - Why vague goals drain energy; concrete plans are more effective 

8:48 - Building belief in yourself through strong self-efficacy 

9:16 - Designing systems rooted in autonomy for lasting motivation 

10:06 - Experimenting to find your intuition and personal routines 

11:15 - The non-conscious loop: autopilot goal pursuit through environmental cues 

12:34 - Implementing keystone habits like exercising to foster discipline 

13:57 - Reducing cognitive load with routines (e.g., wardrobe choices) 

15:41 - Bundling habits to reduce decision fatigue 

16:16 - Overcoming choice paralysis with pre-planned routines 

16:39 - The balance between reducing friction and adding intentional effort 

17:21 - Hard work and its role in building discipline and resilience 

20:21 - Practical frameworks: anchoring morning and night routines 

21:17 - Insights from CEO routines and consistency’s impact on performance 

23:08 - The science of decision-making in the mornings 

24:27 - The importance of reflection and adjusting systems over time 

25:34 - Incorporating rewards to reinforce habits 

26:34 - Starting small: The power of 5-minute routines 

27:14 - Designing flexible days with non-negotiables 

28:49 - Recognizing your energy levels to optimize task timing

30:49 - Reflective questions for evaluating your progress 

31:56 - Final encouragement: start small, reflect, and upgrade your systems

RESOURCES

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Morning and Evening Routines by Duke University 

• Motivation and SCT by Bandura (1997)

• Physical activity is connected with a career success (Metelski, 2020)

• The Neuroscience of Goals and Behavior Change by Elliot T Berkman

• The Power of Now by Charles Duhigg

  
  

LET'S CONNECT

DM Hazel Ann on Instagram your ONE non-negotiable habit and the WORD that describes who you are clearly becoming.

🎧 Instagram: @clearlybecoming 

🎵 TikTok: @clearlybecoming_ 

🎧  YouTube: youtube.com/@clearlybecoming

 Next episode: Leadership skills — the qualities that make effective leaders and how to develop them early in your career.

Epiosde 30 — Host: Hazel Ann | Clearly Becoming
"Rejection drops your IQ by 25%. So why are we winging every hard conversation?"

SUMMARY

In this episode, host Hazel Ann dives deep into the invisible forces that sabotage our everyday conversations — and what to do about them.

The host, Hazel Ann, breaks down the neuroscience and psychology behind why we talk past each other, why emotional reactions hijack our best intentions, and how a few simple rules can completely transform how we connect with others — at work, at home, and in life.

Built for ambitious individuals navigating the chaos of their 20s, EP 30 cuts through the noise on communication to give you real, research-backed tools you can use right now.

This episode will help you identify the root cause of most miscommunications, regulate your emotional responses in real time, and show up as a clearer, more confident communicator in every room you walk into.

TAKEAWAYS

• Most miscommunications happen because people are in different types of conversations without even realising it — get on the same page first.
• Take a beat before you respond: a brief pause can be the difference between an emotional reaction and a rational, powerful reply.
• Brains literally sync during great conversations — neurological alignment is what makes connection feel effortless.
• Expressing feelings and vulnerability doesn't make you weak; it makes you relatable, trustworthy, and more persuasive.
• Signalling your values and boundaries clearly isn't aggressive — it's how you earn lasting respect and avoid unnecessary conflict.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction to Clearly Becoming

01:02 – The Gap in Communication: Why We Talk Past Each Other

06:46 – Finding Flow in Conversations

08:09 – Celebrating Your Progress

08:56 – The Mismatch Problem: When Conversations Collide

12:38 – Workplace Communication Dynamics

20:54 – The Importance of Self-Advocacy

26:15 – Your Actionable Communication Toolkit: 4 Rules That Work

30:38 – Embracing Growth in Your Communication Skills

RESOURCES

• Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg — the book behind this episode's core frameworks
• Susan Levin's research at Columbia University — columbia.edu
• Ted Talk by Shannon Pearson — Watch here
• Wharton Business School — wharton.upenn.edu

LET'S CONNECT

✨ Did this episode hit differently? I want to hear from you!

DM me on Instagram with your biggest takeaway or the ONE thing you're committing to this week — let's build accountability together.

Host – Hazel Ann

Instagram: @clearlybecoming

TikTok: @clearlybecoming

🎧 Subscribe to the Clearly Becoming | HerCareerHerWay YouTube channel:

👉 youtube.com/@clearlybecoming

You're waiting to feel ready. Waiting to feel confident. Waiting for the job, the title, the moment someone finally tells you that you belong — and then you'll show up fully.

But what if that's exactly why you're stuck?

SUMMARY

Host: Hazel Ann | Clearly Becoming 

(episode 29) 

In this episode of Her Career, Her Way, host Hazel Ann dismantles one of the most common traps ambitious people fall into in their 20s: waiting to believe before they act.

Built for ambitious individuals navigating the chaos of their early careers, EP 29 goes deep on the neuroscience of belief — why your brain resists change, how memory keeps you locked in old identities, and what it actually takes to become someone new.

Hazel Ann breaks down the science in the way your smart friend would — no jargon, no fluff. Just the framework you actually need.

This episode will help you understand why confidence isn't something you wait for — it's something you build by moving first. If you've ever held back from applying for the job, speaking up in the meeting, or calling yourself a leader before you had the title — this one's for you.

TAKEAWAYS

• Belief is learned, not manifested. Your brain needs real-world evidence to update what it thinks is true about you — visualisation alone won't cut it.

• The Belief–Memory Loop is why you stay stuck: perception → emotion → memory → belief → behaviour → repeat. No new action means no new memory, which means no new belief.

• Embodiment isn't pretending. It's acting as the person you're becoming before the belief fully exists — because that's the only way the belief ever forms.

• Speaking and journaling physically rewire belief. Language restructures emotional memory. Writing separates what happened, what you felt, and what you concluded — so you can update the story accurately.

• Flip the Have–Do–Be model. Most people think: once I have the outcome → I'll do the work → then I'll be that person. Daphne says the opposite. Be → Do → Have.

• Competence builds confidence — not the other way around. Action creates episodic memory. Episodic memory creates evidence. Evidence updates belief.

• Imposter syndrome shrinks through embodiment. You don't wait until you feel like you belong. You act like you do, and your brain catches up.

RESOURCES 

• Bridging the Gap Between Believing and Memory Functions

• Daphne De Baat 

QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE

"Action creates episodic memory."

"Competence creates confidence."

"You are moving first, acting first."

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

What's one way you can embody the next version of you today — and how will you describe it afterward?

• Pick one small action the person you're becoming would take. Do it before you feel ready. Then write it down.

DM @clearlybecoming on Instagram with what you did. Let's build accountability together.

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Power of Belief and Motivation

07:20 Embodiment: Acting Before Belief

13:53 The Do, Be, Have Framework for Growth

18:52 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Embodiment

THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: 

What's one way you can embody the next version of you today — and how will you describe it afterward?

Pick one small action the person you're becoming would take. Do it before you feel ready. Then write it down.

DM @hercareerherway on Instagram with what you did. Let's build accountability together.

LET'S CONNECT

✨ Did this episode hit differently? I want to hear from you!

Hazel Ann — Host of Clearly Becoming 

Instagram: @clearlybecoming 

TikTok: @clearlybecoming 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@clearlybecoming

Episode 28

Host: Hazel Ann | Clearly Becoming 

Your degree didn't prepare you for this. Neither did your internship. But this episode might.

One third global recruiters are already screening for AI literacy — and that number is climbing. If you're in your 20s wondering whether your career is going to survive the next five years, this episode isn't here to panic you. It's here to give you the clearest, most honest framework for what staying relevant actually looks like right now.

SUMMARY

In this episode, Hazel Ann cuts through the noise on one of the most anxiety-inducing topics for young professionals: AI and your career. Not with tech jargon, not with empty reassurance — but with science, real-world examples, and a practical framework you can apply this week.

Built for ambitious 20-somethings navigating the chaos of early careers, EP 28 explores the concept of cognitive offloading — why your brain naturally outsources tasks, how AI takes that to the next level, and why that's both your biggest advantage and your most dangerous blind spot. 

This episode will help you stop fearing AI, start thinking with it strategically, and understand exactly what employers are looking for in the era where what you know matters far less than how fast you can learn, adapt, and apply.

TAKEAWAYS

• ⅓ of global recruiters now screen for AI literacy — and it's rising fast

• Using AI without intention actively weakens your critical thinking and memory over time

• MIT found ChatGPT users had the lowest brain engagement and most repetitive thinking — the Brain-Only group had the highest creativity

• AI is persuadable and has zero consequence awareness — the Claude Vending Machine experiment proves it

• The most hireable people aren't the fastest AI users — they're the clearest thinkers

• Always draft first, then use AI to stress-test your reasoning — not replace it

• The 3 L's — Learn, Leverage, Lead — is your roadmap for staying relevant without losing your edge

CHAPTERS

00:00 - The Importance of AI Literacy in Hiring 

02:57 - Cognitive Offloading and Critical Thinking

07:42 - Leveraging Ai as a Collaborative Tool 

12:59 - The Ethical Implications of AI

16:56 - The Three L’s: learn, Leverage Lead 

26:36 – Conclusion: Use AI responsibly

RESOURCES

• How to Stop AI from Killing your Critical Thinking 

• The AI skills employers want — and what business schools teach

• Project Vend: Can Claude run a small shop? (And why does that matter?) 

• ChatGPT May Be Eroding Critical Thinking Skills, According to a New MIT Study 

• ‘Humanity needs to wake up’ to dangers of AI, says Anthropic chief 

• Relevant Episodes: EP 22 – How Personal Branding Creates Career Clarity in Your 20s 

LET'S CONNECT

✨ Did this episode shift something for you?

This week's challenge: 

Pick one task you'd normally outsource entirely to AI — and draft it yourself first. 

Then use AI to push back on your thinking. Notice the difference.

DM Hazel Ann on Instagram with what you chose and what happened. She reads every single one.

Hazel Ann — Host of Clearly Becoming 

Instagram: @clearlybecoming 

TikTok: @clearlybecoming 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@clearlybecoming 

If this episode was useful, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it takes 30 seconds and helps another 20-something in the middle of a career spiral find this show. That's a pretty good trade.

SUMMARY

Host: Hazel Ann | Clearly Becoming

In this episode, Hazel unpacks the real reason you can't commit to a job, obsess over emails for hours, or feel paralyzed by career decisions — and no, it's not indecision. It's your attachment style.

Built for ambitious individuals navigating the chaos of their 20s, EP 27 explores how the same psychological patterns that shape your relationships are secretly running your career decisions. From the hyper-independent girl who refuses to ask for help, to the over-researcher who polls everyone but still can't choose — Hazel breaks down the science of attachment theory and how your nervous system is keeping you stuck.

This episode will help you:

Understand why career decisions feel as emotionally intense as relationship drama

Identify your attachment pattern (avoidant vs. anxious) and how it's showing up at work

Build the psychological security you need to take bigger risks, negotiate boundaries, and finally move forward with clarity

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Your Brain Doesn't Separate Love and Work

• Security → Risk-Taking. Insecurity → Protection.

• Research shows: secure attachment = clearer vocational identity, more exploration, real confidence

• Anxious attachment = cognitive overload, choice paralysis, comparison spirals

• Avoidant attachment = extreme independence that limits network growth long-term

• Stable Relationships = Clearer Career Identity

• Czech study (21-year-olds): close parental ties early → vocational clarity

• Over time: romantic partner stability matters more than parents for career confidence

• Chinese research: self-differentiation (handling others' expectations without losing yourself) = psychological immune system

• The SECURE Framework:

• S — Stabilize support (anchor, advisor, peer)

• E — Examine your pattern (withdraw or spiral?)

• C — Create decision container (limit inputs)

• U — Upgrade self-differentiation (separate their fear from your desire)

• R — Regulate first (nervous system before logic)

• E — Engineer environment (you become the 5 people around you)

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro: You Don't Have a Career Problem, You Have an Attachment Problem

06:03 - The Two Types of Girls in Their 20s (And Why Both Are Stuck)

07:40 - The Science: How Your Brain Treats Career Decisions Like Relationships

12:26 - Czech Study: Secure Attachment = Vocational Clarity

14:19 - Chinese Study: Self-Differentiation as Your Psychological Immune System

15:06 - The Avoidant Girl: Why "I Don't Need Help" Is Holding You Back

16:26 - The Anxious Girl: Choice Paralysis & Comparison Spirals

20:06 - The SECURE Framework: How to Build Stability & Take Bigger Risks

23:26 - Close: Your Attachment Style Is Protection — Not Personality

RESOURCES

• Chinese Study on Self-Differentiation & Career Adaptability

• Czech Study on Emerging Adults & Vocational Identity

• The Neuroscience of Love: What’s Going on in the Lovestruck Brain? 

• Related Episode: EP 22 – How Personal Branding Creates Career Clarity in Your 20s

LET'S CONNECT

✨ Did this episode hit differently? I want to hear from you!

DM me on Instagram with your biggest takeaway or the ONE thing you’re committing to this week — let’s build accountability together.

Host - Hazel Ann

Instagram:@clearlybecoming

TikTok: ⁠@clearlybecoming_

🎧 Subscribe to the Clearly Becoming | HerCareerHerWay YouTube channel:

👉 youtube.com/@HerCareerHerWay

Ever looked at your resume and thought: “I’ve worked hard… so why doesn’t this sound impressive?”

This episode is for anyone in their 20s who feels underqualified, overlooked, or unsure how their experience actually translates into career growth.

SUMMARY

Host: Hazel Ann | Clearly Becoming

In this episode of Clearly Becoming, the host, Hazel Ann breaks down one of the biggest career myths holding ambitious young professionals back: that they don’t have enough experience.

Built for individuals navigating the chaos, pressure, and self-doubt of their 20s, this episode explores why it’s not about lacking experience, it’s about knowing how to articulate it.

Using customer service as a powerful example, Hazel unpacks how everyday roles quietly build skills like resilience, adaptability, communication, and problem-solving — the very skills employers are actively seeking.

You’ll learn why familiarity bias causes you to undervalue your own experience, how psychology and neuroscience explain why lived experience wires confidence faster than theory, and how to use storytelling to translate what you’ve done into language employers understand.

This episode introduces a practical, repeatable framework to help you extract value from any role you’ve had, so you can show up clearer, more confident, and more compelling in interviews, resumes, and career conversations.

TAKEAWAYS

• Feeling overwhelmed by your resume is common — especially in your 20s

• You don’t lack experience; you lack translation

• Customer service roles build highly transferable career skills

• Familiarity bias makes you underestimate what comes naturally to you

• Resilience and adaptability are top skills in today’s job market

• Storytelling turns experience into evidence

• Confidence grows from clarity, not credentials

• You don’t need multiple jobs to be hireable

• Career upskilling starts with reframing what you already know

• Lifelong learning and adaptability are non-negotiables for long-term growth

  
  

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The Neuroscience of Customer Experience - Paul J. Zak
• Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases - Tversky A, Kahneman D.
  

LET'S CONNECT

✨ Did this episode hit differently? I want to hear from you!

DM me on Instagram with your biggest takeaway or the ONE thing you’re committing to this week — let’s build accountability together.

Host - Hazel Ann

Instagram:@clearlybecoming

TikTok: ⁠@clearlybecoming_

🎧 Subscribe to the Clearly Becoming | HerCareerHerWay YouTube channel:

👉youtube.com/@HerCareerHerWay 

If interviews make you overthink, freeze, or feel like your entire future is being judged in 30 minutes, then this episode is for you.

SUMMARY

Host: Hazel Ann | Clearly Becoming | Her Career Her Way

This episode is part of the Career Upskilling Series — where we build the skills that actually move your career forward.

In this episode, Hazel Ann breaks down why interviews feel so overwhelming in your 20s — and why struggling in interviews doesn’t mean you’re unqualified or “bad at them.”

Instead of teaching you what to say, this episode focuses on how to show up: grounded, present, and confident without forcing it.

Built for ambitious twenty-somethings navigating career uncertainty, EP 25 reframes interviews from high-pressure performances into intentional conversations. You’ll learn why over-preparing can actually hold you back, how interviewers really remember you, and how to prepare in a way that makes you feel calm, clear, and adaptable, even when nerves show up.

This episode will help you stop faking confidence and start building it through preparation that actually works.

TAKEAWAYS

• Why 85% of candidates fail interviews due to ineffective preparation — not lack of ability

• Over-preparing and memorising answers can make you more rigid and less natural

• Interviews land better when they feel like conversations, not performances

• Nerves don’t mean you’re failing, they can actually help you stay alert and present

• Interviewers remember how you made them feel more than perfectly worded answers

• Empathy, presence, and curiosity leave a stronger impression than perfection

• Self-judgement during interviews makes it harder to think clearly

• Preparing flexible stories gives you confidence without scripting yourself

• Researching people and culture matters more than memorising company facts

• Confidence grows from action, practice, and intention 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Interview Challenges

05:45 Why Flexibility Beats Perfect Answers

13:57 Tactical Preparation That Actually Works

25:28 Key Takeaways & Final Reframe

LET’S CONNECT

✨ Did this episode calm your interview anxiety even a little?

DM me on Instagram with your biggest takeaway or the one thing you’re changing about how you prepare — let’s make growth feel less overwhelming and more intentional.

Instagram:@clearlybecoming

TikTok: ⁠@clearlybecoming_

🎧 Subscribe to the Clearly Becoming | HerCareerHerWay YouTube channel:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@clearlybecoming

How many times have you actually chosen your next career move — or have you just been reacting?

SUMMARY

In this episode of Her Career, Her Way, host Hazel Ann breaks down why proactivity is one of the most underrated career skills, especially for ambitious individuals navigating their 20s.

Many young professionals feel constantly busy — applying to jobs, preparing for interviews, responding to emails — yet still feel stuck, exhausted, and powerless. Hazel Ann explains why this isn’t a motivation problem or a lack of effort, but a lack of agency. Careers don’t stall because you’re not working hard enough — they stall because you’re stuck in reaction mode.

Built for ambitious individuals navigating the chaos of their 20s, EP 24 introduces a practical, grounded framework to help listeners shift from reacting to choosing. Hazel Ann walks through three key mindset shifts — from silence to clarity, outcomes to inputs, and future-focused anxiety to present-moment ownership — and shows how proactivity is about deciding before chaos hits, not doing more.

This episode will help you regain confidence, take ownership of your career path, and start building momentum intentionally — without burnout, perfectionism, or hustle culture pressure.

TAKEAWAYS

• Careers stall due to a lack of agency, not effort

• Proactive careers reward intentionality over talent

• Assertiveness is clarity — not confrontation

• You can’t control outcomes, but you can control inputs

• Your career is built by both what you do and who you become

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Crant, J. M. (2000). Proactive behavior in organizations

• The University of Edinburgh (2025). Being Proactive 

• how to slow down time (the neuroscience of time perception) by Yana Yuhai 

• Huzzah Recruit (2026). Getting Noticed at Work Starts by Developing Your Proactivity Muscle

• Tracy, B. (2023). The Power of Being Proactive: 5 Ways to Develop This Surprising Skill

• Your mindset reset - Dr Shade Zahrai

LET'S CONNECT

✨ Did this episode hit differently? I want to hear from you!

DM me on Instagram with your: 

• biggest takeaway

• ONE thing you’re committing to this week

Let’s build accountability together!

Host - Hazel Ann

Instagram: ⁠@hercareerherway⁠

TikTok: ⁠@hercareerherway⁠

🎧 Subscribe to the Her Career, Her Way YouTube channel:
👉 youtube.com/@HerCareerHerWay