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/