Engineering Better Conversations

85% of promotions have nothing to do with your technical skills. That's not an opinion. It's what the research shows — and it's what most engineers never get told.

In this episode, Nancy Michieli breaks down why your technical expertise may actually be working against you in the room — and what to do about it.

You'll learn:

• Why decision-makers aren't evaluating your output — they're evaluating how you land
• The communication pattern you defaulted to before age eight (and still use under pressure)
• How to read any room and match the rhythm of the people who decide your future
• The one shift that takes engineers from invisible to influential

If you've ever walked out of a meeting feeling overlooked, dismissed, or frustrated that the right answer wasn't enough — this one's for you.

Discover Your Leadership Communication Style Find out how you're showing up in high-stakes conversations — and what's getting in the way of your next promotion. 👉 Take the free quiz: https://engineeringbetterconversation...

📞 Ready to go deeper? Book a free 30-minute coaching call with Nancy. Bring one conversation that went sideways — and leave with one insight you can use immediately. 👉 https://www.engineeringbetterconversa...

🎧 About the Show Engineering Better Conversations is where technical and project leaders learn to speak so people listen.

Hosted by Nancy Michieli, engineer turned executive communication coach, the show explores how clarity, influence, and human communication drive real leadership results.

🔗 Connect with Nancy

LinkedIn: / nancymichieli

Website: https://www.nancymichielicoaching.com/

Newsletter: https://www.engineeringbetterconversa...

When someone asks, “Tell me about yourself,” do you start listing credentials or clearly express who you are? If you’ve ever struggled to stand out in interviews or conversations with senior leaders, this episode will change how you define and communicate your professional identity.

🎙 Episode Overview In this episode of Get Promoted Faster, Nancy Michieli sits down with Rich Keller, brand expert and creator of the One Word Personal Brand philosophy, to unpack how discovering your core value can transform your career story. Rich shares practical ways to articulate what makes you memorable, align your next role with your true identity, and speak about yourself with clarity and confidence.

💡 We Talk About Why most professionals confuse credentials with identity How to find the “One Word” that defines your brand Turning that word into your personal compass for career choices Using your core value to answer “Tell me about yourself” with impact How alignment creates credibility, fulfillment, and promotability

🎁 Free Resource or Next Step Get Rich Keller’s free 30-minute discovery call: 👉 Discover Your ‘One Word’ Personal Brand – Learn how to articulate who you are and why you stand out

🔗 https://therichkeller.com/discover/

💼 About Get Promoted Faster Series Hosted by Nancy Michieli, engineer-turned-executive coach and founder of Nancy Michieli Consulting — this series helps high-performing technical professionals move from overlooked to promoted through better conversations, credible communication, and influence that drives results.

Learn more → https://nancymichielicoaching.com

Join the Get Promoted Faster Community → https://www.skool.com/get-promoted-faster

🕘 Chapters

• 0:00 – Intro: Why “Tell Me About Yourself” is the career make-or-break question
• 1:30 – Meet Rich Keller
• 4:15 – How the ‘One Word’ idea was born
• 7:45 – Core values vs credentials
• 12:10 – Finding your career compass
• 16:20 – Apple brand example and simplicity
• 21:00 – Applying ‘One Word’ in interviews and promotions

⚑ Subscribe for More If you want to advance your career by mastering communication, credibility, and leadership presence

✨ Connect with Nancy Michieli

LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/nancymichieli

Instagram → https://instagram.com/nancymichielicoaching Website → https://nancymichielicoaching.com

Newsletter → https://www.engineeringbetterconversations.com

Skool → https://www.skool.com/get-promoted-faster

💬 Connect with Rich Keller LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richskeller/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/richskeller/

Website → https://therichkeller.com/

Free Resource → https://therichkeller.com/discover/

Most engineers spend their days executing, jumping from meeting to meeting and task to task, yet still feel stuck when it comes to career growth. But what if the problem isn’t your technical skill? What if it’s the way you’re thinking and the conversations you’re having?

In this episode of Engineering Better Conversations, Nancy Michieli sits down with Melissa Creede, executive coach and leadership expert, to break down the real difference between strategy and tactics and why so many engineers and project managers stay stuck in execution mode. From ineffective meetings to reactive work patterns, Melissa shares the simple but powerful shifts that move professionals from doing the work to leading it.

From strategic thinking to intentional conversations, Melissa shares:

• Strategy vs tactics and why most engineers stay stuck in execution mode
• Why meetings fail to create progress and what to do differently
• The one question that changes conversations: what would success look like
• The difference between reactive work and intentional leadership
• Why putting time in your calendar to think is the habit most people avoid

00:00 Intro — Why Most Meetings Go Nowhere

01:10 What Is a Strategic Conversation?

02:25 Tactical vs Strategic Conversations Explained

03:30 The Question That Changes Everything: “What Would Success Look Like?”

05:00 Why Meetings Fail (And How to Fix Them)

07:00 The 3 Questions Every Leader Should Ask Before a Meeting

09:30 Why Being Strategic Is About Intentionality

11:00 Strategy vs Tactics in Organizations

13:00 The Power of Vision and Thinking Bigger

16:00 Why Most People Don’t Think Strategically

18:30 The Hidden Cost of Reactive Work

20:00 The Habit People Resist Most (But Need Most)

22:00 How to Create Strategic Thinking Time

24:00 Tactical vs Strategic To-Do Lists

26:00 Why Stepping Away Improves Thinking

29:00 Brain States and Strategic Thinking

31:00 Creating Rituals for Strategic Work

33:00 Strategy for Personal Growth and Leadership

36:00 Who Do You Need to Become?

39:00 The Power of Conversations in Leadership

42:00 From Execution to Influence

45:00 Growth Through Discomfort and New Experiences

47:00 Strategic Leadership and Social Impact

50:00 About Melissa Creede & Closing

Melissa Creede is an executive coach and leadership expert who helps executives, businesses, and leaders develop strategic thinking, intentional leadership, and meaningful impact. With a 30-year career spanning Fortune 50 companies to global social initiatives, she brings both visionary thinking and practical strategies to help professionals move beyond reactive work and into purposeful leadership.

🔗 Connect with Melissa:

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

Website: https://sapis.ca/

Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Beyond-Your-Inbox-Intentional-Leadership-ebook/

Engineering Better Conversations is where technical and project leaders learn to speak so people listen. Hosted by Nancy Michieli, engineer turned executive communication coach, the show explores how clarity, influence, and human communication drive real leadership results.

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

Website: https://www.nancymichielicoaching.com/

Newsletter: https://www.engineeringbetterconversations.com

Most job seekers spend hours hitting "Easy Apply" only to meet a wall of silence. But what if the problem isn’t your experience? What if it’s the fact that 95% of recruiters are looking for you in a way you haven’t prepared for?In this episode of Engineering Better Conversations, Nancy Michieli sits down with Heike Heemann, career strategist and LinkedIn expert, to pull back the curtain on how hiring actually happens in 2026. From the "Hidden Job Market" to the nuances of your personal "First Impression," Heike shares the exact framework she uses to help professionals land roles faster. From profile optimization to networking etiquette, Heike shares:

1. The 95% Rule: Why your visibility to recruiters matters more than your resume.
2. The "First Impression" Checklist: The specific elements of your profile that trigger a "yes" from a hiring manager.
3. The Cost of Delay: Why every month without a salary is a loss you can't afford, and how to shorten your search.
4. Beyond the "Easy Apply": How to tap into the 85% of jobs that are never even posted.
5. The "Billboard" Strategy: How to set yourself apart in seconds before they move to your competition.-
6. The Power of Recommendations: How to curate social proof that builds instant trust.SEO for Humans: How to use keywords so both the algorithm and the recruiter love you.
7. The "Open to Work" Debate: When to use the green banner and when to keep it hidden.

🎬 Timeline

1. 00:00 Intro — 95% of Recruiters are Looking for YOU
2. 01:30 The "Hidden Job Market" — Where 85% of Roles Live
3. 03:15 The Cost of Delay: Why Your Job Search is Costing You Money
4. 05:12 First Impressions: The 5-Second "Billboard" Test
5. 07:45 Your LinkedIn URL: The Small Change with Big Impact
6. 10:15 Headlines That Hook: Moving Beyond "Job Titles"
7. 14:20 The About Section: Telling a Story, Not Listing a Resume
8. 18:35 Keywords & SEO: How to Get Found by the Right People
9. 22:10 The Strategy of Engagement: Why Likes Don't Land Jobs
10. 30:15 Recommendations: The Social Proof That Closes the Deal
11. 35:50 Handling Career Gaps and Furloughs Gracefully
12. 45:30 Networking Etiquette: How to Reach Out Without Being "Cringe"
13. 51:10 Heike’s First Impression Checklist & Self-Evaluation
14. 55:08 How to Connect with Heike Heemann

🤝 About the Guest Heike Heemann is a premier career strategist and LinkedIn specialist who helps high-level professionals navigate complex career transitions. With a background in marketing and sales, she treats personal branding like a high-stakes product launch, ensuring her clients don't just "look for work," but "get found" by the right opportunities.

🔗 Connect with Heike:

1. LinkedIn: / heikeheemann
2. Website: https://www.ideasharecoaching.com/
3. Free Resource: https://www.ideasharecoaching.com/7ti...

🎧 About the Show Engineering Better Conversations is where technical and project leaders learn to speak so people listen. Hosted by Nancy Michieli, engineer turned executive communication coach, the show explores how clarity, influence, and human communication drive real leadership results.

1. 🔗 Connect with Nancy:
2. LinkedIn: / nancymichieli
3. Website: https://www.nancymichielicoaching.com/
4. Newsletter: https://www.engineeringbetterconversations.com/

Most ERP projects go over budget, miss their goals, and create more chaos than they solve. But what if the problem isn't the software — it's the order in which you do everything else?

In this episode of Engineering Better Conversations, Nancy Michieli sits down with Bob Wallis, strategist, consultant, and self-described "Project Fixer," to unpack why so many ERP and large software implementations go sideways — and what leaders can do before, during, and after to change that.

From vendor selection to go-live disruption, Bob shares:

1. Why people — not technology — should always come first
2. How to interview and select the right ERP vendor (and the right people from that vendor)
3. Why you should map your processes before the meter starts running
4. The hidden cost of compressing the training window
5. What the "aircraft carrier curve" tells us about every system launch
6. Why module-by-module implementation de-risks everything
7. How to tell if your project manager is a contributor or a true leader
8. The go/no-go decision — and why it's the hardest call on any project

Bob also shares the real reason organizations choose the technology first and why that almost always costs more in the end.

For engineers, project leaders, and technical managers, this episode is a reminder: the system doesn't save you. Your people, your process, and your alignment do.

About the Guest

Bob Wallis is a strategist, consultant, and creative leader who makes complex ideas not just clear — but surprisingly engaging. With deep experience in ERP implementations, large-scale project leadership, and organizational alignment, Bob has earned the title of "Project Fixer" by helping teams navigate the people, process, data, and technology challenges that derail even well-funded initiatives.

Known for combining analytical precision with an intuitive read on people and timing, Bob helps organizations de-risk their projects before they go sideways — and course-correct when they already have. He brings calm authority, dry wit, and real-world insight to every engagement, making serious progress feel a little less serious.

Bob's talks explore project success, leadership, talent development, collaboration, and adaptive strategies.

🔗 Connect with Bob:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-wallis-512ba322/

Website: https://www.61keysllc.com

🎧 About the Show

Engineering Better Conversations is where technical and project leaders learn to speak so people listen.

Hosted by Nancy Michieli, engineer turned executive communication coach, the show explores how clarity, influence, and human communication drive real leadership results — in projects, teams, and careers.

🔗 Connect with Nancy:

◼️ LinkedIn: / nancymichieli ◼️ Website: https://www.nancymichielicoaching.com/ ◼️ Newsletter: https://www.engineeringbetterconversations.com/

If you don’t speak up, you don’t get heard.

But speaking up takes courage — especially in rooms where the stakes are high.

In this episode of Engineering Better Conversations, Nancy Michieli sits down with Alicia Moore to unpack what courage really means in corporate leadership.

From Silicon Valley boardrooms to executive decision-making, Alicia shares:

• Why leaders must choose growth over comfort

• How to develop a decision-making framework

• The hidden risk of doing nothing

• How to encourage bold ideas without ego

• Why companies shrink creativity instead of expanding it

• How to build a culture that supports risk-taking

They explore examples from Netflix, Microsoft, Blockbuster, and Silicon Valley disruptors — and why waiting until the “dragon is at the door” is often too late.

For engineers and technical leaders, this episode is a reminder:

Courage isn’t about being fearless.

It’s about being in motion.

Alicia Moore is a coach, speaker, bestselling author, and CEO of Strategic Impact Solutions. With degrees and certifications from Stanford, UCLA School of Law, Berkeley Haas School of Business, and NACD, Alicia combines elite academic credentials with decades of real-world executive experience.

Known as a “corporate Swiss Army knife,” she has led across legal, operational, and strategic roles — helping CEOs and leadership teams clarify vision, make bold decisions, and accelerate growth.

Named Top Executive Success Coach of 2025 by Insider Weekly, Alicia blends creativity with practical execution to help leaders navigate risk, disruption, and transformation.

🔗 Connect with Alicia:

◼️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciajmoore/

◼️ Website: https://aliciajmoore.com/

Engineering Better Conversations is where technical and project leaders learn to speak so people listen.

Hosted by Nancy Michieli, engineer turned executive communication coach, the show explores how clarity, influence, and human communication drive real leadership results — in projects, teams, and careers.

🔗 Connect with Nancy:

◼️ LinkedIn: / nancymichieli

◼️ Website: https://www.nancymichielicoaching.com/

◼️ Newsletter: https://www.engineeringbetterconversations.com

This episode is a reality check for high-performing leaders who believe burnout is just part of success.

Burnout isn’t the real problem.

Chasing work-life balance is. For engineers, project leaders, and ambitious professionals, overwhelm often isn’t about workload — it’s about identity, boundaries, and chasing a myth that was never built for modern leadership.

In this episode, executive coach and author Laura Crestan breaks down why work-life balance doesn’t work — and what leaders should focus on instead. Laura Crestan is an executive coach and author of Work Is Not Your Life. She works with senior leaders to build emotional fitness, resilience, and clarity — especially in high-pressure environments where expectations are high and time is finite.

In this conversation, we discuss:

1. 00:00 Intro — Work-Life Balance Is a Myth
2. 01:43 The 5 Integration Frameworks
3. 05:28 Emotional Fitness & Perfectionism
4. 07:35 “Should” Language & Self-Judgment
5. 09:23 “Try” vs “Do” — The Language of Avoidance
6. 11:39 Calendar Boundaries & Burnout Signals
7. 14:42 Burnout vs. Boredom
8. 16:52 High Performers & Overworking
9. 18:39 Why Leaders Need a Thinking Partner
10. 20:00 Health, Sleep & Movement
11. 23:25 Shutting Down Work at Home
12. 24:17 Relationships & Workplace Culture Fit
13. 29:00 Family Boundaries & Communication Expectations
14. 32:00 Boundaries Define Where You End
15. 34:35 Slack Systems & Communication Clarity
16. 38:00 Meeting Audits & Ineffective Meetings
17. 40:00 Work Is Not Your Life
18. 44:00 Letting Go to Move Up
19. 46:00 Learning → Doing → Being as a Leader
20. 47:38 Growth & the 3-Year Vision
21. 50:00 Experimentation vs. Perfection
22. 52:00 Life Is Messy — Trust the Process
23. 56:00 Final Takeaway: Integration Over Balance

About the Guest Laura Crestan is an executive coach and author focused on helping leaders build resilience and emotional fitness. With over 25 years of leadership experience, she challenges overwork culture and teaches professionals how to lead with clarity, strength, and purpose.

🔗 Connect with Laura:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loracrestan/
2. Website: https://www.loracrestan.com/
3. Book: Work Is Not Your Life https://www.amazon.ca/Work-Not-Your-Life-Balancing/dp/1069492302/

About the Show Engineering Better Conversations is where technical and project leaders learn to speak so people listen. Hosted by Nancy Michieli, engineer turned executive communication coach, the show explores how clarity, influence, and human communication drive real leadership results — in projects, teams, and careers.

Connect with Nancy:

1. LinkedIn: / nancymichieli
2. Website: https://www.nancymichielicoaching.com/
3. Newsletter: https://www.engineeringbetterconversations.com

This episode is a wake-up call for leaders who think clarity is optional. After decades working with organizations, project teams, and leadership groups, Carla Lewis shares one hard truth: communication is always the problem — and always the fix.

From stalled projects to resistance during change, this conversation explores why momentum slows, why teams push back, and why “just do it” leadership creates confusion instead of results.

Carla Lewis is a leadership and organizational change expert who works with organizations to improve clarity, alignment, and readiness for change—especially in complex, high-stakes environments where decisions matter.

In this conversation, we discuss:

1. Why communication breakdowns derail even strong teams
2. Why clarity is the engine behind momentum
3. The hidden cost of “just do it” leadership
4. Why titles don’t earn respect — communication does
5. How clarity doesn’t eliminate complexity, it organizes it
6. What Apollo 13 teaches leaders about alignment and buy-in
7. Why resistance isn’t resistance — it’s a request
8. How the grapevine fills the silence when leaders don’t communicate
9. Why saying it once is never enough
10. What it really takes to get people to say yes to change

About the Guest Carla Lewis is a leadership and organizational change expert who helps organizations improve clarity, alignment, and readiness for change. 🔗

Connect with Carla:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlajlewis/
2. Website: https://carlajlewis.com/

About the Show Engineering Better Conversations is where technical and project leaders learn to speak so people listen.

Hosted by Nancy Michieli, engineer turned executive communication coach, the show explores how clarity, influence, and human communication drive real leadership results—in projects, teams, and careers.

Connect with Nancy:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancymichieli/
2. Website: https://www.nancymichielicoaching.com/
3. Newsletter: https://www.engineeringbetterconversations.com/