In this season wrap-up of Coffee & Coaching, our Coach Karol Figueroa revisits the most powerful lessons from the Real Work series, bringing together key insights on burnout, boundaries, self-advocacy, toxic workplaces, and job transitions.

You’ll revisit why saying “I’m at capacity” is leadership, how your body signals misalignment before your mind admits it, why high performers must show their work, how to recognize when trust in a workplace has cracked, and how to stand out after a layoff with a Personal Walking Deck.

If you’re navigating today’s workplace or rethinking your relationship to it, this episode delivers the essential takeaways from Season 1 and sets the stage for what’s coming next.

Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings

Gallup and ICF-certified executive coach Angelique Arnao joins Coach Karol Figueroa to break down why workplace assessments often feel frustrating and how to actually use them for real leadership growth.

Karol and Angelique unpack why many employees see assessments as “pass or fail,” and what they’re truly designed to reveal. They compare the most popular tools—CliftonStrengths, Hogan, MBTI, and DiSC—and explain how to combine them to better understand your personality, communication style, and leadership approach. They also explore whether personality can change over time, how trauma can impact results, and why you can’t develop what you don’t truly understand.

If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at “another assessment,” this episode will help you use these tools strategically for deeper self-awareness and stronger leadership.

Connect with today’s guest, Angelique Arnao

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelique-arnao-97a1a31

Website: https://www.arnaoanderson.com/ 

Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings

In this Coffee Capsule, Coach Karol Figueroa breaks down why “New Year, New Goals” pressure can lead to procrastination, overwhelm, and negative self-talk.

Learn how to identify the real root cause (fear, lack of clarity, or external circumstances), tell the difference between being stuck vs. taking a purposeful pause, and take small steps forward with realistic milestones and new approaches.

If you’re overthinking or struggling to move, this episode will help you reset with clarity and self-compassion.

Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings

Executive Coach and Professor Shannon Hogan joins Coach Karol to uncover how toxic work cultures quietly damage trust, creativity, and well-being—long before the warning signs feel obvious.

Learn how negligent communication creates toxic environments, the three warning signs of a failing culture, why trust is nearly impossible to rebuild once broken, and why people don’t leave organizations—they leave leaders. Shannon also explains the courage required to confront toxicity and protect your health.

If work feels draining, stressful, or unsafe, this episode will help you assess your environment and decide what to do next.

Connect with today’s guest, Shannon Hogan

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonhoganphd/ 

Website:  https://www.totalbrilliancecoaching.com/

Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings

Marketing leader and CliftonStrengths Coach Helane Cohen joins Coach Karol to unpack the emotional and practical realities of today’s layoff landscape after her own 14-year career at Microsoft.

Learn how to let go of outdated beliefs about job security, navigate ageism, and separate your personal value from your corporate title. Helane also shares actionable strategies for standing out in a crowded job market—including how to use a Personal Walking Deck to connect with hiring managers and why you should build a side hustle before you need one.

If you’re navigating uncertainty or preparing for your next chapter, this episode offers a roadmap for rebuilding your confidence and career.

Connect with today’s guest, Helane Cohen 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/helanecohen

Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings

Coaches Reggie and Karol unpack the real meaning of purpose and why your calling has nothing to do with job titles, positions, or industries.

Learn why clarity takes time, how to stop tying your identity to your work, and what it really means to “do what you need to do before you can do what you want.” Reggie also breaks down the difference between commitment vs. interest and why creating mental space is essential for finding direction.

If you feel stuck, unfulfilled, or unsure of your next step, this episode offers the mindset shifts you need to let your calling find you.

Connect with today’s guest, Reginald G. Jackson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachreginaldgjacksonsrpcc/   

Website:  https://www.totalbrilliancecoaching.com/

Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings

Executive coach Dr. Danielle Lombard-Sims joins Coach Karol to break down the real challenges behind promotions, leadership transitions, and imposter syndrome.

Learn how to navigate your first 30-60-90 days, shift from doer to strategic leader, set boundaries with former peers, and handle the pressure placed on middle managers. Danielle also shares how to avoid burnout and navigate corporate politics with confidence.

If you’ve stepped into a new leadership role—or want to—this episode gives you the essential playbook for leadership success.

Connect with today’s guest, Danielle Lombard-Sims

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellelombardsims/  

Website:  https://talentergy.com/  

Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings

Are you burned out and don’t know why it keeps coming back?
Coach Karol and Coach Tamie Rising break down the real causes of burnout, chronic stress, and emotional exhaustion and why rest alone isn’t enough.

Learn why hard work becomes a trap, how childhood conditioning fuels pressure, and how to use the productive pause to create sustainable emotional regulation.

If you feel overwhelmed, overworked, or trapped in a toxic environment, this episode will help you reset and rebuild.

Connect with today’s guest, Tamie Rising

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamierising/   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamierising/  

Website:  http://getonyourtruepath.com/ 

Read her book: Pause to Prosper

https://getonyourtruepath.com/pause-to-prosper-book-and-bonus 

 Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings

Are you a top performer who keeps getting overlooked for promotions?
Coaches Karol and Tammi Teague break down the power of self-advocacy at work and why working hard in silence isn’t enough for career advancement.

In this episode, you’ll learn the two key steps to promotion: know what you want and show your work, plus how to give your advocates the right “ammunition” to speak for you when you’re not in the room.

If you feel unseen, overworked, or stuck in your career, this episode will show you how to increase your visibility and move to the next level. 

Connect with today’s guest, Tammi Teague

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdlloyd062016/ 

Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings

The Hard Truth About Promotions: Why Being Too Good Can Hold You Back, and How to Navigate Corporate Setbacks

Are you feeling stuck in your career? In this comprehensive episode, drawing on insights from a former Microsoft Director, we answer real-life questions covering the most frustrating obstacles people face on the path to the next level.

Letter #1 (1:40)
Stuck in a New Promotion & Performance Improvement Plans

A newly promoted employee placed on repeated PIPs and blocked from internal opportunities.

Letter #2 (5:23)
Lacking Leadership Qualities Due to Being Quiet

A high-performing but quiet employee told they lack “leadership presence”

Letter #3 (8:19)
Questioning Leadership Approach: Hands-On vs. Situational Leadership

A manager torn between being hands-on and focusing only on leadership.

Letter #4 (12:34)
Denied Promotion for Being Too Good

An employee denied a promotion for being “too good” at their job.

Letter #5 (16:01)
Recourse After Being Passed Over by a Less Qualified Colleague

Being passed over for a less qualified colleague due to suspected bias.

Letter #6 (19:47)
Quitting Due to Feeling Undervalued and Pay Inequality

Quitting after pay inequality and deciding what to say in an exit interview.

If you’re struggling with career advancement, corporate politics, workplace fairness, or leadership development, this episode gives you practical strategies to navigate your next step. 

Meet your host: Karol Figueroa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolfigueroa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karol.figueroa.tate/

Need support at work? HIK Trainings can help.

Website: https://www.hiktrainings.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiktrainings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiktrainings