Join Dr. Cynthia for a solo episode focused on the belief that human capital is the business strategy. Drawing from her new book, Human Capital Investment Strategy, she addresses ambitious professional women, both those still navigating their careers and those who are informal or formal leaders. The episode argues that organizations have often failed to invest in their people, leading to women leaving the workforce at disproportionate rates and to high performers disengaging. Dr. Cynthia introduces a "simple but radical shift": treating people and their collective human capital like investment portfolios, not positions. This means applying intentional allocation, risk assessment, diversification, and long-term planning. She challenges listeners to recognize their influence, even without a title, and to model strategic investment. The real work of climbing the corporate ladder is making it "sturdier, wider, [and] making sure others don't fall through the rungs". Purchase Human Capital Investment Strategy by February 6th to help advance it to bestseller status and strategically expand its reach. Use discount code CCL at checkout. Connect with Dr. Cynthia: dr-cynthia.com | @DrCynthiaBentzenMercer | LinkedIn

In a world where technology is accelerating and traditional advantages are quickly becoming commoditized, what actually sets leaders apart?

In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Josh Linkner, two-time New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, venture capital investor, professional jazz guitarist, and globally recognized innovation expert.

Together, they explore why human creativity is the ultimate competitive advantage in the modern workplace. Josh challenges the fear-based narrative around AI and automation, offering a powerful reframe: the goal is not to outpace machines, but to out-human them. While technology can scale tasks, humans bring empathy, judgment, imagination, and meaning, qualities that cannot be replicated or commoditized. Using the vivid analogy of classical versus jazz musicians, Josh explains why today's leaders must move beyond rigid playbooks and learn to improvise, adapt, and think creatively in real time. He also breaks down the difference between imagination, creativity, and innovation, and shares how small, everyday "big little breakthroughs" can transform teams, cultures, and results.

You'll also learn:

• Why creativity is not just for artists, but for finance, legal, operations, and customer service
• The biggest blocker to creativity at work, and how leaders can remove it
• How to build a culture that unlocks the creative potential already inside your people
• Why creativity is the foundation of every solution, opportunity, and advancement in human history

If you want to future-proof your leadership, elevate your impact, and build organizations that thrive in uncertainty, this conversation is your playbook, with a little jazz mixed in.

Pre-order your copy of Human Capital Investment Strategy: bit.ly/BUYHCIS

Connect with Josh:

joshlinkner.com | LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Cynthia: dr-cynthia.com | @DrCynthiaBentzenMercer | LinkedIn

In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Heather McGowan (named one of Forbes' top futurists), a sought-after strategist, keynote speaker, and two-time bestselling author, to unpack what the future of work actually looks like and why our most valuable advantage isn't technical… it's human.

Heather challenges the fear-driven narrative that AI is "coming for everyone's jobs," explaining that artificial intelligence works best when humans stay in the loop and workflows are redesigned to optimize both human intelligence and machine capability. The real shift ahead isn't jobs disappearing, it's work transforming, faster than most organizations are prepared for.

Together, Dr. Cynthia and Heather explore why adaptability is becoming the most important leadership competency, how the COVID era proved we're capable of extraordinary change (and deeper compassion), and why it's time to stop hiring for old skills and start hiring for capacity: learning agility, curiosity, resilience, and comfort with not knowing.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why AI won't replace humans, but leaders who adapt will win

• How media habits increase stress and distort uncertainty

• Why hiring must shift from skills to learning capacity

• How to use AI without "giving up control"

• The mindset shift leaders need to embrace dissent and collective intelligence

• Heather's "Start, Stop, Continue" framework for thriving now

Connect with Heather McGowan: HeatherMcGowan.com | LinkedIn | YouTube

Connect with Dr. Cynthia: dr-cynthia.com | @DrCynthiaBentzenMercer | LinkedIn Her new book, Human Capital Investment Strategy, is available for pre-sale: bit.ly/BUYHCIS.

What if the reason you're not getting promoted isn't your performance… but your presence?

In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Lorraine K. Lee, bestselling author of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career, keynote speaker, Stanford Continuing Studies instructor, and LinkedIn Learning educator.

Lorraine breaks down what presence really means in today's workplace (hint: it's more than confidence or charisma). She defines presence as how you're seen and where you're seen, especially in a world of Zoom meetings, Slack messages, LinkedIn visibility, and distributed teams.

Together, they unpack why hard work alone isn't enough at the mid-level, how leaders decide who's ready for the next role, and how to advocate for yourself without feeling like you're "bragging."

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• Why presence is built in everyday moments, not just high-stakes presentations

• How to shift from "solving today's problems" to preventing next quarter's

• The difference between self-advocacy and self-promotion (and why it matters)

• Why you can't opt out of office politics, and how to play strategically without losing yourself

• What to start, stop, and continue to increase your influence

• How to stop using minimizing language like "I just wanted to…" and "Sorry to bother you…"

Lorraine also shares behind-the-scenes stories from writing her book, interviewing leaders and creators (including Daniel Pink, Corporate Natalie, and Kim Scott), and building a career that's more of a portfolio than a ladder.

Get Lorraine's book Unforgettable Presence: https://a.co/d/0VxI0Cx

Pre-order Dr. Cynthia's new book, Human Capital Investment Strategy: bit.ly/BUYHCIS

In a world of constant disruption, leaders are under pressure to execute bold transformation strategies faster than ever. But what happens when strategy moves ahead without bringing people along?

In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer is joined by Jen Fisher to explore why compliance may drive short-term results but ultimately undermines innovation, engagement, and trust. Together, they unpack the concept of a "hope strategy" and why leaders must pair transformation with belief, well-being, and human sustainability to create lasting change.

This conversation challenges leaders to rethink how they define success, build culture, and invest in people during uncertain times.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: dr-cynthia.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia

In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Mel Stanley, author of Success Without Compromise and founder of First Woman.

With more than 25 years of experience as a C-suite marketer in the UK, Mel brings an honest, lived-in perspective on what it really takes for women to rise into leadership and what they are often asked to give up along the way. After leaving corporate life in 2019, she founded First Woman to help professional women claim their agency, step into leadership, and challenge the norms holding them back.

Together, Dr. Cynthia and Mel explore how workplace culture is built on scarcity thinking, particularly the expectation that women should feel grateful just to be in senior roles. That gratitude often leads to silence, unpaid work, and burnout, as women hesitate to speak up or disrupt the status quo.

The episode concludes with a timely discussion about the perceived rollback of gender equality and DEI efforts in both the U.S. and the U.K., as well as why the data still reveals that women are far from equal in pay, opportunity, and representation at the top.

If you have ever felt pressure to stay quiet, be grateful, or make yourself smaller to succeed, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: dr-cynthia.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia

In this special holiday bonus episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia is joined by her two children, Jordyn and Jacob, for a deeply personal conversation about leadership, identity, and the ways a career can shape a family.

Jordyn reflects on her journey through motherhood, divorce, and returning to the workforce after years as a stay-at-home mom. She shares what it means to rediscover identity beyond roles and titles, reclaim confidence, and pursue purpose on her own terms. Jacob, preparing to become a first-time father, discusses modern fatherhood, the importance of emotional presence, and how his mother's passion for learning and leadership has influenced his values and career path.

Together, they explore what it was like growing up with a "corporate mom," the evolution of gender roles in parenting, balancing ambition with family life, and redefining success across different seasons of life. The episode also includes proud personal milestones, reflections on legacy, and a lighthearted holiday lightning round filled with memories, laughter, and perspective.

This candid, heartfelt conversation offers a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into leadership beyond the boardroom and its impact at home.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: dr-cynthia.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia

This week, Dr. Cynthia is joined by Melissa Aarskaug, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Growth at Druva, author of Renaissance, and a true architect of a career designed on purpose.

Melissa challenges one of the most common myths about success: that it's defined by titles. Instead, she shares how real momentum emerges when values, energy, and calendar align—and how her biggest breakthroughs occurred when she stopped chasing every opportunity and started choosing the right ones.

A married mother of four, Melissa didn't wait for permission. She designed her own lanes—blending leadership, cybersecurity, storytelling, boardrooms, and stages—to solve real problems and build meaningful impact. That same philosophy led her to found the Executive Connect podcast, creating the resource she once wished existed.

In this conversation, Melissa shares: • Why clarity cures more than we think • How to run your life like a portfolio (with quarters, tradeoffs, and non-negotiables) • Why small, consistent reallocations beat dramatic reinvention • How to redefine success through "heart work" and "why" work • The Maverick archetypes (Visionary, Builder, Connector) and how to know which one you need in your corner

This episode is a masterclass in designing a life and career that actually fits.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: cynthiabentzenmercer.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia

What happens when life brings more than you ever asked for...

and you choose to rise anyway?

In this powerful episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author, and human behavior expert Kim Becking for an unforgettable conversation on resilience, reinvention, and unstoppable momentum.

From a breast cancer diagnosis at 30 to becoming a national speaker, from navigating single motherhood and remarriage to caregiving, Kim shares how every season of hardship shaped her groundbreaking Unstoppable Momentum framework. Together, they unpack what it really means to not just bounce back, but bounce forward.

You'll learn:

• Why resilience today requires grit with grace

• How to stop, shift, and reframe your way through adversity

• Why rest, boundaries, and community are not weaknesses, but strategies

• How to quiet your "inner bully" and reconnect with joy

• Why momentum begins with permission to feel AND permission to heal

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by "so muchness," stuck in survival mode, or unsure how to move forward after life changes, this episode will meet you right where you are.

To learn more about Kim, visit her website.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: cynthiabentzenmercer.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia

In this episode, Dr. Cynthia sits down with career strategist and author John Tarnoff to explore what it really looks like to reinvent yourself mid-career.

John shares why your 40s, 50s, and beyond are actually your most strategic years and why resilience isn't about enduring more, but realigning your work with who you've become.

Together, they unpack: • how to pivot without "starting over." • why mid-career professionals have more leverage than they realize • the difference between resilience and burnout • how to build a career that reflects your actual value

If you're navigating change, craving clarity, or thinking about what's next, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: cynthiabentzenmercer.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia